Apt Pupil Page #28

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Darren readies Dussander's arm for an injection.

DUSSANDER:

I don't want it. Who is that man?

Before Dussander can protest, Darren sticks him with the needle.

DARREN:

Your surgery was a success. Just try to

relax.

FADE TO BLACK.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - MORNING

WEISKOPF (O.S.)

(in German)

Wake up. Wake up, old man.

Dussander's eyes open. The first thing he sees are three men,

all in suits, standing over him.

DUSSANDER (in German)

Are you speaking to me?

The voice comes from WEISKOPF, 40's. His suit is dark gray,

well tailored, probably European. He speaks eloquently despite

an accent that shows roots of Europe and the Middle East.

WEISKOPF:

(back in English)

No one else is here.

Dussander looks over at Ben's former bed.

WEISKOPF (CONT'D)

Mr. Krauss is recuperating elsewhere. Are

you awake now, Dussander?

DUSSANDER:

Yes, of course, but you seem to have me

confused with someone else. My name is

Arthur Denker. Perhaps you want a different

room --

Weiskopf sits on the edge of the bed. Dussander notices the pin

on his lapel. A small, silver Star of David.

WEISKOPF:

My name is Weiskopf. You are Kurt Dussander.

DUSSANDER:

I know no one by that name. Shall I ring for

the nurse?

Dussander reaches for the Call button and stops in horror. He

looks at his hands. His fingertips are smeared with black ink.

He looks up at the men in disbelief.

WEISKOPF:

The man in the next bed was Benjamin Krauss.

He was imprisoned for ten months at Patin.

You were responsible for the death of his

wife and two daughters. His identification

of you was quite specific. I'm sure his

reward from my government will help offset

the burden of his broken leg.

DUSSANDER:

My name is Arthur Denker. I am an American--

WEISKOPF:

Please don't bother. Your papers will not

stand up to serious examination and you know

it.

The detective, GETTY, snaps a few pictures of Dussander. The

other man is FBI Special Agent DAN RICHLER.

RICHLER:

We have all we need here, Isaac.

DUSSANDER:

Who are you men? What are your names?

RICHLER:

My name is Richler, FBI. This is Detective

Getty from the Orange County Sheriff's

Department.

WEISKOPF:

And I think you know who I work for. When

you get your strength back, you will be

moved. Until then, this entire ward will be

under surveillance. You can expect to be in

Tel Aviv by the end of the summer.

The three men are out the door.

INT. TODD'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Todd's room is dark as he lies on the floor, writing something

on a pile of index cards. The only light comes from the hallway

through the open door of the bedroom. Todd is deep in thought,

but from the bits of shredded index cards we can tell the

writing is not coming easily.

TODD:

The road ahead reveals itself, uh, God, no.

The road ahead... grrrr, The f***ing road

ahead.

Monica appears in the doorway.

MONICA:

Todd?

Todd doesn't notice her. He stares down at the card. Finally he

looks up, as if it took her voice a few seconds to register in

his mind. His response is hardly audible.

TODD:

Huh?

MONICA:

What are you doing there in the dark?

TODD:

Oh, ...working.

Monica reaches in to his room to turn on the light. She touches

the switch but then pulls her hand back. Todd is back at the

note card. She looks at him oddly, worried, but then steps away

from the door and goes downstairs.

Todd's lips are moving, as if he were speaking to himself. He

pauses. Then, in a sudden gust of inspiration begins to write

furiously. He finishes and stands up, catching his reflection

in the mirror above his desk. In the eerie half-light, he

stares at the ghost-like image of himself.

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL - FOOTBALL FIELD (GRADUATION) - DAY

Todd, in cap and gown, is seeing his parents to their seats in

the second row. Ed French comes up to Todd and puts his hand on

his shoulder. Todd is startled.

TODD:

Mr. French.

FRENCH:

Hello, Todd. It's your big day, isn't it?

They shake hands. French sees Dick and Monica sitting behind

Todd. Before Todd can stop him, he introduces himself.

FRENCH (CONT'D)

These must be your parents.

(extends hand)

Hi, Ed French. It's good to finally meet

you.

Dick and Monica are the picture of happiness, hardly the

dysfunctional drunkards that French believed them to be. They

all shake hands.

DICK:

Dick Bowden, nice to meet you. This is my

wife, Monica.

MONICA:

Are you one of Todd's teachers?

French is a bit puzzled.

FRENCH:

No. I'm his guidance counsellor.

A WOMAN behind Monica taps her on the shoulder.

WOMAN:

Monica, I thought that was you.

Monica turns away from French. Suddenly, the band strikes up

opening notes to "Pomp and Circumstance."

TODD:

(to French)

That's our cue.

FRENCH:

(to Dick)

It was nice meeting you.

DICK:

You too.

(to Todd)

Good luck, son.

FRENCH:

I'll talk to you and your wife after the

ceremony.

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