Apt Pupil Page #21

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ARCHIE:

Ain't no reason to be rude. You see, I know

something about you. ...I know your a nice

guy. I'm nice too, ...just like the kid.

Dussander looks up and down the street. No one is around.

DUSSANDER:

I see.

ARCHIE:

And I know you got some bourbon in these

bags. I ain't ashamed to say I could use a

drink about now. But I don't need no charity.

If you want to invite me in, like a friend,

we could have a nice drink.

DUSSANDER:

A drink.

ARCHIE:

That's what I'm saying.

Long pause.

DUSSANDER:

You smell like a toilet.

ARCHIE:

Maybe you let me use your shower. But first

a drink. After that I'll do anything you say.

INT. DUSSANDER'S LIVING ROOM - EVENING

Dussander and Archie come through the front door. Archie scans

the room.

ARCHIE:

Yeah, this is nice. Real nice.

DUSSANDER:

Let me take those.

(takes the bags)

Right this way.

Dussander moves toward the kitchen. Archie watches him walk

away. A smile crosses his face as he follows him to the kitchen.

INT. LIVING ROOM - BOWDEN HOUSE - EVENING

Todd and his parents are together in the living room. Todd is

studying for his trigonometry final. Monica sits at the couch

addressing graduation announcements. Dick is at his desk,

pouring over a pile of receipts.

MONICA:

I guess your parents don't need a graduation

announcement.

DICK:

No.

TODD:

Grandma and Grandpa aren't coming?

MONICA:

(to Dick)

I thought you told him.

DICK:

Christ, I forgot. Todd, my aunt Patty, Dad's

sister, died on Wednesday. Mom and Dad have

to drive up to Fresno to settle her estate.

We can't ask Dad to drive six hours each way

for graduation.

MONICA:

If we ask them, they'll do it.

DICK:

That's why. You understand, don't you, Todd?

Todd thinks for a moment, realizes something.

TODD:

Of course, Dad. It's all right. Tell

Grandpa I'll spend the week with him and

Grandma when they get back.

MONICA:

What about Mr. Denker? I almost forgot about

him.

TODD:

No, He won't want to come.

INT. DUSSANDER'S KITCHEN & BASEMENT - EVENING

Archie, seated at the table with his back to Dussander, is in

the middle of a sprawling monologue about his life to which

Dussander half-listens. Dussander goes to the cabinets and

takes out two glasses. He pours the drinks and sets the glasses

on the table. Archie picks his up and is about to drink.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

Ah-ah.

Dussander picks up his glass to toast Archie. Archie CLINKS his

glass to Dussander's and downs the shot.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

I believe we need another bottle, my friend.

ARCHIE:

Well if you're offering, I'm accepting.

Dussander goes to the cellar door to retrieve another bottle.

DUSSANDER:

No trouble at all. Now where is my bottle

opener? Ah, here it is.

Dussander pulls something out of a drawer. He goes to the table

and stands right behind Archie.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

Why don't you drink mine?

Archie picks up the glass and begins to drink, slower this time.

Dussander pulls Archie's tattered hat off his head and sets it

on the table. He then begins to stroke the matted knots of

Archie's hair.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

You don't mind do you?

ARCHIE:

No. I don't mind. ...Maybe in the morning -

everything goes okay - you could let me have

ten dollars.

DUSSANDER:

Perhaps.

ARCHIE:

Maybe even twenty.

DUSSANDER:

Perhaps. We shall see.

Pause.

ARCHIE:

You can relax, you know, I've done this before.

DUSSANDER:

It's all right. So have I.

Dussander raises a meat fork up to the back of Archie's neck.

He starts to plunge it in just as Archie turns back to look at

him. The fork goes in crooked. Archie explodes from the chair,

HOWLING, his arms flailing like those of a grizzly bear. With

the fork protruding from his back, Archie tosses the table to

the side. The empty bottle tumbles to the middle of the floor

and shatters. Archie spins and slams a fist into Dussander's

temple. Dussander collapses against the counter. Archie moves

about wildly, trying to grab the fork and pummel Dussander at

the same time. Blood is streaming freely from his wound.

Dussander grabs a frying pan from a rack of drying dishes on the

counter. As Archie approaches, Dussander swings the pan into

Archie's descending fist. Archie winces and staggers backward.

He stomps down on the broken bottle and screams. His guard

falls briefly. Dussander is upon him. He swings the pan,

catching Archie squarely in the face.

Archie brings his hands up to his face, which now oozes with

blood. Blinded by the blow, Archie charges Dussander, who

crouches to the side, and as Archie passes, hurls himself into

the man's back, sending him through the open door of the cellar.

Archie flies down the stairs face-first, tumbling into the

packed dirt floor like a derailed train. Dussander, exhausted

and bloodied, exhales deeply. Looking down at the crumpled body

below, he straightens his tie, brushes the hair from his face,

and then surveys the kitchen.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

What a mess.

He rises slowly and brushes himself off before heading down the

steps to finish the bum for good. After about three steps he

stops abruptly. He appears puzzled, but after a moment the

expression changes. A look of searing pain rushes across his

face. Dussander brings his hand to his chest. He collapses on

the stairs. He is having a heart attack and knows it.

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