poly_chromatic | ║ seventy-fifth stanza ║ video

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dead poets society - todd anderson

║ seventy-fifth stanza ║ video

[The angle of the camera is upward, from the table in front of the couch upon which Todd is seated. Sullenly, he sits - head downward but eyes up, trailing an unseen figure stalking back and forth across the room in silence. At length, he raises his head, jutting his chin out. There's a tremble to the defiance, but he sets his mouth into a thin line.]

You're wrong.

[He flinches slightly, but doesn't pull back.]

You're not really here, but even if you were, it-- it wouldn't matter. I'm not worthless. I never was.

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You tell 'em.

[ She doesn't know who or why, but on general principles. ]

[Of course the device is on.

There's a short, somewhat nervous laugh from his end.]

I think I did.

It... sort of helps that I know he's not real.

Not real? I thought -- but I can feel him. My dad.

Oh-- yeah, this, um... it's happened before. Other people can't see or hear them.

Oh boy, now that's a load off my mind. I can actually deal with this if it goes away at midnight.

Yeah, it... does kind of help. A lot, really.

Oh-- um, I'm Todd.

You can tell him anything you want, and no punishment!

I'm Toph. I think I've seen you around here and there.

Well, I do still get to listen to all the yelling, but... no, he can't really do much.

Yeah, I... have been around a while. But, it's nice to meet you, um, properly?

Fingers in your ears. Works every time.

Yeah, yeah, same. You're friends with that dreamy kid, right? With the plays.

Not a bad idea.

[Dreamy kid?]

Oh, Neil? Yeah... yeah, I am.

[Just for the sake of novelty (and taking several days off), Justin is at the apartment instead of at work. Naturally, he has to investigate Todd talking to himself.

There might be an orange tabby cat following him, although it doesn't seem at all bothered by Todd's lack of a conversational partner.]

Todd?

[Oh, hello Justin - and cat. Huh.

Todd glances up tentatively, an uncertain, small smile on his face.]

Oh-- hi. Um...

[And he glances to the space his father occupies - from his point of view.]

Sorry. Curse.

[Yeeeah. The cat's been around since that one day where people were compelled to hug cats, although she's been kept a secret--as if Neil or Todd would care. Not that Justin did any cat-hugging himself.]

Father?

[It's the only sensible explanation.]

[Well, Todd doesn't really mind its presence. Unsurprisingly. Neil's sprung much larger, more sentient guests on him without warning, after all.]

Yeah. It's not so bad, knowing it isn't real, but...

[And another uneasy glance to that empty space, then back to Justin.]

Well. I still get to listen to it.

Just don't listen to what he says. Your father--or a version the City makes up--wouldn't know you well enough to criticize you, not as you are now.

[with extra awkward] Your father should be glad to have you.

I know, and I'm trying not to, it's just... difficult.

[Shifting a little, he finds a spot on the floor to study.]

He just doesn't really... he doesn't understand me, I don't think. Him, and my brother, they're-- well. They're just not very much like me.

Is it bad that they aren't like you?

[He scoops up the small cat that, in true cat form, is attempting to be as underfoot as physically possible.]

Maybe they don't understand, but it's--there're worse things than not being understood.

Well, no, I don't really mind it, it's just... I think that's why he just always yells at me, why he thinks I'm not... well, why I won't amount to anything.

[Not that Todd's even saying that, you may note.]

I don't go after things the way they do, you know? And I think maybe... he thinks that means I don't care.

It's a good thing he's wrong.

[Because Todd has already amounted to something.]

They can't know you and expect you to be aggressive. Doesn't your father know that timidity and apathy aren't the same thing?

[Todd just gives a soft laugh at that statement. His invisible father doesn't like it very much, but he only gets spared a passing glance. He turns back to Justin with a slight shrug.]

I guess he's just always been trying to change it. He doesn't like the way I am.

He doesn't have to like the way you are. We're not obligated to please our parents.

[Not that Justin should talk. He tried pleasing his parents for years before giving up and deciding that their opinion didn't matter.]

Yeah... he has a different view on that, too.

[He rolls his head to the side slightly, a lopsided, sardonic smirk to accompany. He's getting a lovely earful.]

I don't think I am, not anymore. I haven't for a while. It's just that I get to hear about it now.

What he says doesn't have an impact on your anymore?

Well, it does-- I mean, I don't exactly like that my father thinks I'm worthless.

But I don't think he's right.

Then it doesn't matter what he thinks as long as you know that he's wrong.

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