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Apt Pupil (film)

1998 film by Bryan Singer

Apt Pupil is a 1998 film about a boy who blackmails his neighbor after suspecting him to be a Nazi war criminal.

Directed by Bryan Singer. Written by Brandon Boyce, based on the novella by Stephen King.
If you don't believe in the existence of evil, you've got a lot to learn.

Kurt Dussander

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  • Boy, be careful. You play with fire.

Todd Bowden

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  • All great achievements arose from dissatisfaction. It is the desire to do better, to dig deeper that propels a civilization to greatness. All of us have heard the story of Icarus, the young boy who took the wings his father built for him. Wings that were meant to carry him over the ocean to freedom and used them instead for a joyride. For a brief moment Icarus felt what it was like to live like a god, to touch the sun, to soar above the common man. And for doing so he payed the ultimate price. Like Icarus we too have been given gifts: knowledge, education, experience. And with these gifts comes the responsibility of choice. We alone decide how our talents are bestowed upon the world. This is our destiny and we hold it in the palm of our hands.

Dialogue

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[Todd knocks on Dussander's door]
Kurt Dussander: Yes? What do you want?
Todd Bowden: I...
Kurt Dussander: If you're selling something, I'm not interested.
Todd Bowden: I have your newspaper.
[Dussander opens the door of his porch to take the newspaper]
Todd Bowden: I'm not selling anything.
Kurt Dussander: Then what do you want?
Todd Bowden: If you could let me in for a minute, I just want to talk.
Kurt Dussander: Talk? I don't have anything to say to you, boy. Good day to you.
[he shuts the door and turns to go back inside]
Todd Bowden: [as he speaks, Dussander stops and slowly turns round] Bergen-Belsen, January '43 to June '43. Auschwitz, June '43 to June '44. Then you went to Patin. After that you disappeared, but then in 1965 you were spotted in West Berlin.
Kurt Dussander: Listen, boy... I don't have time for this game. Now get out of here before I call the police.
Todd Bowden: Call them if you want. I'm sure they'd love to meet you.
Kurt Dussander: What do you want? Tell me.
Todd Bowden: I want to hear about it.
Kurt Dussander: Hear about what?
Todd Bowden: The stories. Everything.
Kurt Dussander: What everything?
Todd Bowden: Everything they're afraid to show us in school. You were there. You did those things. No one can tell it better than you can.
Todd Bowden: [about the killings at the death camps] What did it feel like?
Kurt Dussander: It was something that had to be done. A door had been opened and couldn't be shut. It was the end... You don't understand.
[Todd has brought Dussander a gift - a replica SS uniform]
Todd Bowden: Well, try it on.
Kurt Dussander: Have you completely lost your mind? What on Earth makes you think I'd put something like that on?
Todd Bowden: I thought you would like it.
Kurt Dussander: Like it? You are a bigger fool than I thought. Maybe I'll put it on and do a little shopping, is that what you thought? The indignities I've suffered with you, I should smash you.
Todd Bowden: What you've suffered with me is nothing compared to what the Israelis would do to you. You forget that. And I'll admit that's my fault, but don't ever forget the file I have on you. I try to do things the nice way but you don't want it. So fine, we're going to do it the hard way. You'll put this on because I want to see you in it. Now, move!
[Todd is trying to forge his father's signature for a reply to a letter from school]
Kurt Dussander: You're messing things up with that carbon paper.
Todd Bowden: Yeah, what do you know about it?
Kurt Dussander: [slaps his hand down on Todd's shoulder, Todd gets up and Dussander takes his place] Here, out of the way. I was forging documents before your parents were born.
Victor Bowden: Arthur, I wonder if you'd mind if I asked you a personal question.
Kurt Dussander: Not at all.
Victor Bowden: What did you do during the war?
[Todd looks at Dussander]
Kurt Dussander: I was in the reserves, as were most young men, Victor. My poor eyesight kept me out of combat, thank God. No, I spent most of the war in a military hospital washing bed linens and nurses' uniforms.
Todd Bowden: Have you lost your mind? What the hell were you thinking, 'Grandpa'?
Kurt Dussander: What are you so excited about?
Todd Bowden: Oh, you've got some fucking balls! I could have screwed you up, anything could have happened!
Kurt Dussander: You played it beautifully, boy. I knew you would.
Todd Bowden: Are you fucking drunk? I could have busted you right there!
Kurt Dussander: Yes, you could have, but you did not. Now, why was that? Your Edward French is not going to give you any more trouble, so now you are upset because the only way you can make things right is to work.
Todd Bowden: I'm upset because you had that asshole thinking I can do something that can't be done!
Kurt Dussander: Oh, but it can. And it will. You will simply have to work. No more stories. No more screwing around.
Todd Bowden: I don't take orders from you.
Kurt Dussander: [sniggers] You do now.
Todd Bowden: Oh, you think so? Yeah, well, don't forget I could walk right in there and pick up that phone...
Kurt Dussander: And do what? Do you really think that I would stand aside and let you turn me in without dragging you with me, do you? Your American self confidence is so bloated you've forgotten the reality of the situation. 90,000 died in Patin. To the whole world, I am a monster. And you have known about me all this time. If I'm caught, when those reporters stick their microphones in my face it will be your name that I will repeat over and over again. Todd Bowden, Todd Bowden... Todd Bowden, yes, that was his name. For how long, for months, almost a year, he wanted to know everything. That was how he put it, yes, everything.
Todd Bowden: You're crazy. They'll never believe you.
Kurt Dussander: It doesn't matter. Oh, you're going to be infamous, boy, take my word for it. And do you know what such a scandal can do? It never goes away. Not for you, not for your parents. And besides, lying to judges and reporters isn't as easy as you think. You'd have to be brilliant. Can you do that? I know I can.
Kurt Dussander: To have someone in your control. To have them know that they are alive only because you have not decided to the contrary. Do you have that power? Ask yourself. It's not an easy question, I think you know that.
Todd Bowden: You know this means we're through, don't you? You won't be seeing me around here anymore.
Kurt Dussander: No. I suppose I won't.
Todd Bowden: What are you doing?
[he's pouring two glasses of whiskey]
Kurt Dussander: This is the end. Here. A drink. To our lives together. The beginning and the end.
Todd Bowden: I think you should fuck yourself.
Kurt Dussander: Oh, my dear boy. Don't you see? We are fucking each other.
Edward French: You can't do this, Todd.
Todd Bowden: You have no idea what I can do.

Cast

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