Apt Pupil Page #24

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A second later we HEAR a SHARP, authoritative BLOW, followed

quickly by another, then another.

INT. DUSSANDER'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

Dussander knows something is wrong. He slides the bolt back and

slowly turns the handle. He opens the door slightly and speaks

into the darkness.

DUSSANDER:

Hello?

INT. DUSSANDER'S BASEMENT - NIGHT

A shaft of dull light from the kitchen cuts across the cellar

floor, revealing Archie's slain body. An expanding pool of

blood seeps out from his head. As the door upstairs opens

wider, the light falls on Todd standing over Archie, the shovel

still in his hands, his face spattered with blood.

The Todd we knew only a minute ago has been transformed. He

stares up at Dussander, not with the eyes of a boy, but with

those of a man. A man who can no longer be saved.

INT. DUSSANDER'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

Quietly Dussander moves away from the door, leaving Todd alone

with what he has done. He slides the furniture away from the

door, knowing, as Todd does, that the two of them are now

working together.

INT. DUSSANDER'S BASEMENT - LATER

Todd's face is suddenly illuminated as he screws a fresh light

bulb into the dangling cord. He picks up the shovel. Archie's

body still lies where it fell. Todd goes to the open area of

the floor and with a forceful stomp, plunges the shovel into the

dirt.

INT. DUSSANDER'S BASEMENT - NIGHT - LATER

Todd smacks the back of the shovel on the finished grave to pack

the dirt, then smooths the area over to destroy any markings.

He is sweaty, dirty, and tired. But his manner is cool and

efficient as he concentrates intently on the matters at hand.

He runs upstairs, hopping over the bloody spot where Archie's

body used to be.

INT. DUSSANDER'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

Todd bursts through the door. He notices the old man in his

chair. Dussander doesn't look good. Todd levels his eyes at

him. His voice snaps with the authority of an S.S. commander.

TODD:

Where's the f***ing pinesol?

Dussander points to the cabinet under the sink. Todd throws the

door open and pulls out bottles of cleaner.

TODD (CONT'D)

Rags. I need rags.

DUSSANDER:

Cellar. Under the stairs.

Todd checks the clock, it is 9:25. He gets the bottle and a

bucket and goes for the cellar.

INT. DUSSANDER'S BASEMENT - NIGHT

A SERIES OF SHOTS showing Todd cleaning up the mess. He is on

the stairs sponging up the blood. Then we see him skimming the

area where the pool of blood was with the shovel. The NEXT SHOT

has him sprinkling fresh dirt over the same area. Then, on his

knees, he carefully picks up bits of broken glass from the light

bulb and drops them into a bucket. In the FINAL SHOT, Todd

stands on the steps as his eyes comb the cellar. The shovel has

been cleaned and replaced. The floor looks smooth and even.

Satisfied, he goes upstairs.

INT. DUSSANDER'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

The table has been put back in its spot. Todd is in his boxer

shorts. A SHOT of a washing machine, somewhere else in the

house, shows us that Todd is cleaning his bloodied clothes. Now

he is washing the dishes in the sink. The water in the sink is

a murky pink. He pulls the meat fork from the suds and holds it up.

TODD:

I ought to run this through your chest, you

know that?

DUSSANDER:

It couldn't hurt more than a heart attack.

He looks at the clock - 10:15.

TODD:

Christ, my parents are going to freak.

DUSSANDER:

Stay calm, boy. You are doing fine.

Todd dries the murder weapon and puts it away. For a moment he

slows down, a hint of a smile suddenly comes over him.

Dussander sees something is different about him.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

What are you thinking about?

The sound of Dussander's voice snaps Todd out of his funk. He

is all business again.

TODD:

F*** off.

INT. DUSSANDER'S KITCHEN - NIGHT - LATER

Todd is back in his clothes. He wears a white T-shirt. He

brings a knife up to Dussander's neck and slices down his suit,

still stained by Archie's blood.

TODD:

Your pants are okay. The shoes... no.

Todd takes off Dussander's shoes and balls them up in the

tattered suit.

TODD (CONT'D)

Put this on.

He holds up Dussander's bathrobe. The old man slips into it

with difficulty as Todd dumps the bloodied clothing into a trash

bag. Dussander looks at Todd's T-shirt.

DUSSANDER:

Is that my undershirt?

INT. DUSSANDER'S KITCHEN - NIGHT - LATER

The blood and glass have been removed. Todd runs a mop over the

floor. His job is almost over. Sweat pours down his face. The

same for Dussander.

DUSSANDER:

Hurry up, for God's sake.

TODD:

Don't you die on me, you old bastard. Not

now.

Todd puts the mop away. He surveys the room as before.

Dussander does the same. There is a strange silence as the two

of them look around the room for anything damning.

DUSSANDER:

I think we're okay.

TODD:

Me too.

DUSSANDER:

Call an ambulance.

Todd turns to face Dussander. He brings his face up to his and

speaks softly.

TODD:

The key.

DUSSANDER:

What are you talking about?

TODD:

The safety deposit box. I want the key...

DUSSANDER:

For God's sake, boy...

TODD:

I want the key and I want to know where the

bank is.

Dussander cannot argue.

DUSSANDER:

Hillcrest Savings on Domingo Avenue. The key

is behind the clock on the mantle piece.

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