THE AMERICAN SON VERSUS HITLER
by Richard Nathan
INT. CHILDREN’S FACES -- DAY
Rows of ten-year-old CHILDREN stare at something off screen with rapt attention.
INT. THE FACE OF A CLOCK -- DAY
The clock on the classroom wall shows the seconds ticking down until 3:00. The opening credits begin.
INT. CLASSROOM -- DAY
On the last day of school in June in the year 1943, a class full of fifth grade students stare silently at the clock. Among the children are WALTER JACKSON (the unheroic-looking hero of this film), his best friend IZZY BERNSTEIN, and the angelically beautiful KATHY WAGNER. Walter glances away from the clock to steal a glimpse of Kathy.
INT. CLOSE-UP OF THE CLOCK -- DAY
The second and the minute hand simultaneously reach the 12. It’s 3:00, the start of summer vacation. The excitement exceeds any Times Square celebration of the New Year.
CHILDREN
(off screen)
Yaaaaay!!!!
INT. THE CLASSROOM -- DAY
The TEACHER, at the front of the class, makes a feeble attempt to maintain order.
TEACHER
Class! Let’s not spoil our last day.
Now
please file out in an orderly fashion like
young ladies
and gentlemen. I hope
each of you has
a lovely summer vacation.
CHILDREN
Yaaaaay!!!!
The students stream out in a completely disorderly fashion. The teacher knows there is no point in trying to stop them. Walter, who is a quiet, unobtrusive child, is nearly trampled by the other kids. The opening credits end.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL -- DAY
Students leap with joy. Walter watches Kathy walking off with her best friend BETTY. Izzy slaps his arm around Walter’s shoulder. Izzy is a genius. He looks even less athletic than Walter, but he’s actually stronger and more coordinated, although that isn’t saying much.
IZZY
We’ll never be fifth graders again.
WALTER
Nope.
IZZY
Next year, we’ll be at the top of the
heap –
which isn’t a bad metaphor for this school.
WALTER
Sixth grade at last.
No more big kids
pushing us around.
IZZY
No.
Of course, we’ll still have little
kids pushing us around.
Some of those
second graders pack a mean punch.
WALTER
What are you gonna do with your summer
vacation?
IZZY
As little as my parents will let me get
away
with. Last summer my mom said
I was
turning into a vegetable. This
summer I
plan to grow leaves. What
about you?
WALTER
I don’t know.
Right now, I think I’ll go
get something to read.
IZZY
Going to expand the old intellect, are
you?
INT. A DRUGSTORE -- DAY
The brightly lit covers of a comic book fill the screen. Nothing could be more colorful. The cover shows a costumed superhero beating a gang of Nazis to a pulp. Walter, who has stopped at the drugstore on his way home from school, takes the comic book off a rack. He selects two more comic books. In the background, the owner of the store HARRY TILSEN is selling a newspaper to PROFESSOR ANTHONY MORTON.
TILSEN
Those darn Krauts don’t seem to know
when
to quit!
MORTON
Don’t worry. Soon ol’ Schicklgruber is
going to be sorry he ever gave
up paper-
hanging.
TILSEN
I hope so, but those Jerries are tough!
Look how they swept through France.
MORTON
We’ll wallop them, and we’ll do it
soon.
You can bet on it.
TILSEN
You sound pretty sure.
Do you know something
the rest of us don’t?
MORTON
No.
But if I did, you wouldn’t
catch me
blabbing it. Can’t be
too careful about secrets,
you know. They
say that Axis spies are
everywhere. Loose
lips can sink ships!
At this point, Walter, engrossed in a comic book, collides with Morton. Walter notices that Morton wears a mysterious ring with a large red stone set in it.
MORTON
Ooops. Better watch where you’re going,
son.
WALTER
Sorry, Mister. Do
you really think we’ll beat
the Germans soon?
MORTON
Sure I do! The Japanese too! Don’t
you
think so?
WALTER
I know we’ll beat ‘em.
I just don’t know
when.
MORTON
It’ll be soon.
Trust me.
TILSEN
What’ve you got there, Walter?
Walter hands Tilsen the three comic books.
TILSEN
Three comic books.
That’ll be thirty
cents.
Walter fishes in his pocket and hands Tilsen thirty cents.
TILSEN
Does your mother know you’re buying
so
many comic books?
WALTER
Yes sir. She doesn’t mind.
TILSEN
How is she?
WALTER
She’s okay. She’s got a job.
TILSEN
She’s a good woman.
You take good
care of her, you hear?
WALTER
Yes, Mr. Tilsen.
Goodbye. Sorry I bumped
into
you, Mister.
Walter leaves the store.
MORTON
Nice kid.
TILSEN
Yeah.
His dad was killed in North Africa.
MORTON
Oh, that’s too bad.
TILSEN
(sincerely)
Yeah.
It’s a darn shame.
EXT. MORRISON DRIVE -- DAY
Walter walks down the sidewalk, reading a comic book. As he nears a corner, he realizes where he is. He stares at the house on the corner, and sighs wistfully. As he passes the house that caught his attention, he hears the front door open and close. He turns… and it’s her! He sees Kathy Wagner coming out of her house, and his heart almost stops. Walter knows for a fact that Kathy is the most beautiful eleven-year-old girl on the continent of North America. He doesn’t know yet that he is German. She leaves her house and starts to walk down the sidewalk away from Walter.
WALTER
Hello, Kathy.
Kathy turns and notices him. It takes her a second to remember who she is. Oh yes, he’s that funny-looking, shy kid from her class. She speaks without a noticeable accent, but she articulates carefully.
KATHY
Hello.
She turns back and continues back down the street. Walter stares after her for a moment. He sighs again, and then continues on his way.
INT. WALTER’S LIVING ROOM -- DAY
Walter sits on the floor in front of a large radio and listens to his favorite radio program, “The Adventures of Captain Courage.” We hear the SOUNDS OF A TERRIFIC FIGHT coming over the radio. Then we hear the voices of the radio actors.
CAPTAIN COURAGE
(over the radio)
Take that, Ratzi!
And here’s one for you,
Fritz! Pardon
my fist! Come on, anyone
want some more?
Can’t any of you members
of the so-called “master race” stand up to
one American fighting man?
FRENCHWOMAN
(over the radio)
You have beaten them all, mon ami!
But
who are you?
CAPTAIN COURAGE
(over the radio)
They call me Captain Courage,
Ma’am.
FRENCHWOMAN
(over the radio)
But why do you wear that mask?
CAPTAIN COURAGE
(over the radio)
If my identity were known, the Nazis
might
try to avenge themselves by harming my
family and friends back in America.
Until
this war is over, no one must know my name
or see the face behind
this mask.
We hear from the radio the SOUND OF A DOOR CREAKING OPEN.
NAZI
(over the radio)
This war will be over for you sooner
than
you think, Captain Courage.
FRENCHWOMAN
(over the radio)
A Nazi! And he has a gun!!!
NAZI
(over the radio)
Put up your hands or the Frenchwoman
dies!
ANNOUNCER
(over the radio)
Uh-oh, boys and girls! It
sounds like Captain
Courage is in big trouble!
But I know one thing.
No
Nazi will ever beat him. Just like
nothing
will ever beat the takes of delicious Choco-
Malt! Mmmmm-mmmmm, is it good!
And
now, here’s Captain Courage with some
special words for all you
youngsters!
CAPTAIN COURAGE
(over the radio)
Hi, kids! I hope you’re all collecting all the
scrap metal you can to
help us win the war.
You all know
how the Japs call their flag the
“Rising Son”?
Well, it’ll take all of America’s
daughters and all of America’s
sons, to beat
the Japanese rising sun, not to mention those
Nazis.
ANNOUNCER
(over the radio)
Tune in again at this same time
tomorrow for
another exciting episode in “The Adventures
of Captain
Courage!”
Walter turns off the radio and sits silently for a moment. He turns over an idea in his head.
WALTER
America’s sons.
His thoughts are interrupted by his MOTHER, who calls to him from the hallway.
MOTHER
(off screen)
Walter! Have you washed the dishes yet?
WALTER
I was just about to start.
MOTHER
(off screen)
Don’t put it off too long.
We don’t want
to get ants. I’m
going over to help your
grandmother with some housework.
I’ll be
back by nine.
WALTER
Okay, Mom.
MOTHER
(off screen)
Make sure you do those dishes.
WALTER
Okay, Mom.
We hear the SOUND OF THE FRONT DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING as Walter’s Mother leaves the house.
WALTER
The American Son.
He likes the sound of that. He gets up and grabs a pencil and a pad of paper. We hear his thoughts as he writes.
WALTER
(voice over)
“The Adventures Of The American
Son.”
Walter Jackson was a
typical American
boy. He loved his
country and he hated the
Germans and the Japs.
But one thing about
Walter wasn’t so typical… he had a secret
identity.
Walter stops writing, but his narration continues. He races out of the living room and up the stairs to his bedroom.
INT. WALTER’S BEDROOM -- NIGHT
As the narration continues, Walter runs into his bedroom and pulls a homemade superhero costume out from under the mattress of his bed. He strips down to his underwear and puts on the costume, which consists of a white t-shirt with a small American flag sewn onto the chest, white pants with red stripes down the seams, white tennis shoes, a blue cape made out of an old towel, and a red, white and blue mask.
WALTER
(voice over)
By day, he was just an eleven-year-old
boy, kind of shy and not very good
at
sports, but at night when danger threatened,
he became democracy’s greatest
protector,
The American Son!!!
Walter goes to a mirror and flexes his muscles. He smiles at himself with pride.
WALTER
The American Son!
Suddenly there’s a loud, frantic KNOCKING at the front door.
WALTER
Uh-oh.
The KNOCKING continues even louder. We hear the voice of Professor Morton at the front door.
MORTON
(off screen)
Please! Let me in!
Walter goes to his bedroom window, which offers a view of the front of the house.
EXT. THE FRONT OF WALTER’S HOUSE -- NIGHT
Professor Morton pounds on the front door.
MORTON
Please let me in!
Help! Please help me!
INT. WALTER’S BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Walter looks in his bedroom mirror, and hesitates for a moment.
MORTON
(off screen)
Is anybody in there?
Help me, please!
Walter knows what he must do. He runs out of his bedroom and down the stairs to the front door.
INT. THE FRONT DOOR OF WALTER’S HOUSE -- NIGHT
Walter opens the front door and Morton rushes in, slamming the door shut behind him.
MORTON
Where’s your telephone?
Walter just stares at Morton, trying to figure out what is going on. Morton grabs him by the shoulders and shakes him.
MORTON
Where is your telephone?????
Walter points to the phone in the hallway, directly behind them. Morton dashes to the phone and dials the operator.
MORTON
Operator! Get me the F.B.I.! It’s
very
important! ...
I don’t know the number!
...
All right then, get me the local police,
but hurry!!!
I ... Hello? ... Hello,
operator? ...
Morton looks sadly at the telephone, then hangs it up.
MORTON
The phone is dead.
They must have cut the
line.
Morton turns and notices Walter’s costume for the first time.
MORTON
Who are you?
WALTER
I’m Walter Jackson.
Who are you?
MORTON
Professor Anthony Morton.
Why are
wearing that outfit?
WALTER
It’s supposed to be a superhero
costume.
I made it myself.
It’s just something I play
in sometimes.
Why were you calling the
F.B.I.?
Suddenly bullets shatter a window in the front of the house. Morton dives to the floor, pulling Walter down with him. They lie on the floor as bullets spray the walls. The lamps explode in the gunfire, and the room is plunged into darkness.
MORTON
Would you like to be a real hero?
WALTER
Huh?
MORTON
Do you know who the Nazis are?
WALTER
Sure.
They’re . . .
MORTON
(interrupting)
They’re villains!
Like every villain in every
comic book you’ve ever read, only they’re
real. They’ve marched through
Europe,
destroying everything in their path that was
pure or decent or good.
Now they’re coming
to America, and we must stop them, no
matter what
the cost.
WALTER
But I’m just a kid.
MORTON
You’re an American kid!
Americans can
do anything they set their minds to.
Bright beams of flashlights shine through the shattered window into the house. Morton pulls Walter over to the wall under the window, where they escape the roving beams of light. Morton takes off the strange ring we saw him wearing earlier in the drugstore, and shows it to Walter.
MORTON
You see this ring?
I invented it. It captures
the power of the stars and transmits that
power
to whoever wears the ring.
WALTER
What kind of power?
MORTON
Strength! Speed! Agility!
WALTER
Why don’t you wear it?
MORTON
It doesn’t have the power yet.
It can’t
receive it unless the stars and planets
and the ring itself
are all aligned in exactly
the right places.
Such an alignment will
take place tonight if only I can get the ring
to a spot near this house exactly seven
minutes from now.
Morton looks at his watch to make certain of the time as he says, “seven minutes from now.”
MORTON
I was on my way there when I was jumped
by Nazi spies. They know about my
ring.
I broke away and ran to the
first house I
saw.
WALTER
What are you going to do now?
MORTON
They’ll never let me leave this house
alive.
You have to take the ring!
You have to
get the power!
WALTER
What???
MORTON
There’s no one else!
I’ll open the front
door. When
I do, you run out the back.
Go
straight to the middle of the field on the
playground at Third Street.
Don’t let
anything stop you! Understand?
WALTER
But they’ll kill you!
MORTON
That doesn’t matter!
A hero does what he
knows is right, no matter what the cost.
We hear a loud KNOCKING ON THE FRONT DOOR, followed by the voice of the CHIEF NAZI SPY.
CHIEF NAZI SPY
(off screen)
We know you are in there, Professor
Morton. You cannot escape.
Why
don’t you be sensible and give yourself up?
If you give us the ring, no harm will come to
you.
You have my word as a gentleman.
Morton shouts his answer.
MORTON
(to the Nazi)
All right. I’m going to open the door.
Don’t
shoot.
He whispers to Walter as he hands him the ring. Walter puts it on.
MORTON
(to Walter)
Quickly! Out the back door! You
only
have a few minutes!
WALTER
I can’t leave you to get killed!
MORTON
You’ve got to!
For America! Go!!!
He gives Walter a push.
INT. THE BACK DOOR OF WALTER’S HOUSE -- NIGHT
Walter opens the back door of his house as he hears Morton bravely sacrifices his life.
MORTON
(off screen)
All right! I’m coming out. I
surrender.
We hear the SOUND OF THE FRONT DOOR OPENING, followed immediately by a BURST OF GUNFIRE. Walter runs out the back door.
EXT. WALTER’S BACK YARD -- NIGHT
Walter runs outside, straight into the arms of a FAT NAZI SPY.
FAT NAZI SPY
And where do you think you’re going,
my
little friend?
WALTER
None of your business, fatso!
Walter punches the Fat Nazi Spy in the gut. The Fat Nazi Spy doubles over and Walter runs from the yard. The voice of the Chief Nazi Spy comes from inside the house.
CHIEF NAZI SPY
(off screen)
Where is the ring?
I cannot find the ring!
FAT NAZI SPY
Stop that child!
He must have it!
Several NAZIS run out of the house. The Fat Nazi Spy points after Walter, and the other Nazis give chase.
EXT. A RESIDENTIAL STREET -- NIGHT
Walter runs down the street. We hear GUNSHOTS and bullets whiz past his head.
CHIEF NAZI SPY
(off screen)
Stop that child!
Kill him if necessary!
A TALL THIN NAZI SPY leaps out at Walter from behind a tree. The Nazi laughs at Walter, and grabs him by the shoulders, lifting him up into the air. Walter kicks the Nazi hard in the chest. The Nazi drops Walter and doubles over. Walter punches him in the chin. Walter continues running, and crosses over to Third Street.
EXT. THIRD STREET, NEAR THE PLAYGROUND -- NIGHT
Walter sees the playground up ahead and puts on an extra burst of speed. Suddenly an UGLY SCAR-FACED NAZI runs at Walter with a knife. Walter almost runs into the knife, but he ducks and tumbles into the Nazi’s feet. The Nazi trips over Walter and falls onto his own knife. Walter gets up and keeps running.
WALTER
This whole town is full of Nazis!
EXT. THE PLAYGROUND -- NIGHT
Walter finally reaches the playground on Third Street. He runs over the grass, to the middle of the field. He’s barely able to stand, panting, completely out of breath. He has no idea what to do next.
WALTER
Now what?
The he feels the muzzle of a German pistol against his temple. The Chief Nazi spy stands beside him. A moment later, Nazis surround him.
CHIEF NAZI SPY
Now you will give us the ring!
Put up
your hands, boy!
Walter raises his hands. At exactly that moment, brilliant rays of light shoot down from all over the sky, intersecting at Walter’s ring. There is a blinding flash of light as the ring receives, and passes on to Walter, the power of the cosmos. In an incredibly display of acrobatics, Walter Jackson, THE AMERICAN SON, beats up the Nazis. He dashes around the playground equipment, vaulting and swinging over the chinning bars, kicking villains left and right. He jumps onto one end of a seesaw, causing the other end to smash into a Nazi’s chin. He leaps onto the swings, pummeling Nazis in front and in back. As Walter finishes off the last of the spies, we hear SIRENS. It’s the police driving up to investigate. Several POLICEMEN get out of their cars, their guns drawn. An Irish POLICE CHIEF walks over to Walter.
POLICE CHIEF
All right! All right now, everyone stay
right where you are and tell me
what’s
going on here.
WALTER
Good evening, officer.
These men are Nazi
spies who just murdered Professor Morton.
POLICE CHIEF
Oh they are, are they?
And who might you be?
Captain
Courage, perhaps?
WALTER
No sir. Captain Courage is a character on the
radio.
I’m real. I’m the
American Son.
POLICE CHIEF
I think we’d better all go down to
the station
house and …
WALTER
Look out!
Walter dives at the Police Chief and throws him to the ground as the Chief Nazi Spy draws a gun and shoots at them. The other policemen crouch down and start to shoot back at the Chief Nazi Spy, who dashes away across the playground.
WALTER
I’ll get him!
Keep those other Nazi rats under
guard!
Walter chases after the Chief Nazi Spy. The Police Chief watches in amazement as Walter runs like the wind.
EXT. MORRISON DRIVE -- NIGHT
The Chief Nazi spy turns and tries to shoot at Walter, but the American Son ducks behind a tree. The bullets hit the tree.
WALTER
Give up, Nazi!
You can’t escape!
CHIEF NAZI SPY
We shall see what I can do, boy!
He fires again, and misses. He tries to fire once more, but he is out of bullets.
WALTER
That was your last shot!
Walter advances as the spy frantically reloads. The Nazi reloads in time to take another shot at Walter, who ducks behind a car.
CHIEF NAZI SPY
How does if feel to know that soon you
are going to die?
WALTER
You should know, Nazi!
Walter picks up a manhole cover and holds it in front of himself as a shield as he runs at the Nazi. The Nazi shoots, but the bullets ricochet off the manhole cover. The Nazi runs, and runs straight into Kathy Wagner. He grabs her and puts his gun to her head.
WALTER
Kathy!
CHIEF NAZI SPY
You know this girl?
Good. That is very
good.
Several police cars arrive from the playground. One pulls up beside Walter. The Police Chief gets out.
CHIEF NAZI SPY
Stop!
All of you! Put up your
hands or the
American girl dies!
Lights go in all the nearby houses. Kathy’s parents, MR. AND MRS. WAGNER, come out of Kathy’s house. They are terrified.
MR. WAGNER
Kathy!!!
Mr. and Mrs. Wagner clutch each other in fear.
CHIEF NAZI SPY
Listen! If everyone does exactly as I say, I
may allow the girl to
live.
He drags Kathy with him as he moves to the wall of a house, so that no one can sneak up behind him. A CROWD of on-lookers begins to gather, including Mr. Tilsen from the drug store.
WALTER
What do you want?
CHIEF NAZI SPY
The ring, of course.
Give me the ring, or I
will kill her.
The Police Chief whispers to Walter.
POLICE CHIEF
What’s he talking about?
WALTER
This ring gives super-strength to
whoever
wears it.
POLICE CHIEF
You can’t give that to a Nazi!
WALTER
I’m going to try to get Kathy away
from him.
If I can, as soon as
she’s in the clear, open fire.
Shoot
me too, if you have to. Just make
sure
Kathy’s safe.
POLICE CHIEF
But …
WALTER
Just make sure Kathy’s safe!
Walter steps out from behind the car. Slowly, be begins stepping closer to the Nazi, who keeps his gun aimed at Kathy’s head.
WALTER
Nazi!
I’ll give up the ring if you let her go!
CHIEF NAZI SPY
Throw it to me!
WALTER
I’ll give it to you because it
won’t do you any
good. You could
have every weapon on earth,
and you still couldn’t win.
CHIEF NAZI SPY
Give me the ring, American!
WALTER
When you get it, will it give you the
courage
to stop hiding behind a little girl?
I doubt it.
Nazis never have
any courage. No courage,
and no
brains either. Nazis stink,
everyone
knows that. And Adolf Hitler, or should I
say Adolf Schicklgruber, is the biggest
stinker of all. That goose-stepping clown …
CHIEF NAZI SPY
Swine!!!
The enraged Nazi aims the gun at Walter, but Kathy gets a hand free and shoves the gun aside so that the shot goes wild. Walter dash up to the Nazi and knocks him cold with a single punch. He turns to Kathy.
WALTER
Thanks for saving my life.
KATHY
Thank you for saving mine.
You’re a very
brave boy.
He shakes her hand. The Police Chief directs the other policeman to take away then Nazi spy. Then he prepares to question Walter.
POLICE CHIEF
Take him away, boys.
And now, if you don’t
mind, I have a few questions to ask of you.
For instance, what’s your name?
WALTER
I’m the American Son.
POLICE CHIEF
I mean your real name.
WALTER
I can’t tell you that.
If my identity were
known, the Nazis might try to avenge
themselves by
harming my family and friends.
Until
this war is over, no one must know my
name or see the face behind this mask.
POLICE CHIEF
What about your mother?
WALTER
My Mom?
POLICE CHIEF
Does she know you’re out here at 9:00
at
night, battling Nazis?
WALTER
Excuse me, officer, I have to get
going.
Walter tries to leave, but the Police Chief grabs him by the arm.
POLICE CHIEF
I’m not finished with you yet.
WALTER
Yes you are!
Using his super strength, Walter easily breaks free and runs away.
POLICE CHIEF
Come back here!
WALTER
Can’t! If Mom finds out, she’ll kill me!
The Police Chief Turns to the other policemen for help.
POLICE CHIEF
After him!
A couple of policemen try to catch Walter, but he leaps over a high fence and is gone. Another policeman comes up to the chief.
POLICEMAN
Headquarters has been receiving calls
of
gunfire on Elmore Lane.
POLICE CHIEF
All right. Let’s get over there.
The police limb into their cares and drive away. The crowd disperses, except for Mr. Tilsen, from the drugstore, who stands looking very thoughtful.
EXT. WALTER’S FRONT DOOR -- NIGHT
Professor Morton lies dead in the doorway. The Police Chief and several policemen hurry to the crime scene. The Chief shouts into the house.
POLICE CHIEF
Is anybody in there?
EXT. WALTER’S BACK YARD -- NIGHT
Walter leaps over a fence into his back yard. He leaps up into a tree, swings on a branch, and vaults into an open window on the second floor.
INT. FRONT DOOR OF WALTER’S HOUSE -- NIGHT
The policemen enter, and hear Walter upstairs.
POLICE CHIEF
Hey!
Who’s up there?
All the policemen dash up the stairs.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY IN WALTER’S HOUSE -- NIGHT
The police poke their heads into various rooms. One of them, a policeman names JONES, tries to open the door to Walter’s room, and finds it is locked.
JONES
Who’s in there?
Open up! It’s the police!
WALTER
(off screen, sounding scared)
No!
You’re Nazis! Go away!
JONES
We’re not Nazis!
We’re cops!!! Open
up!
WALTER
Promise you’re cops?
JONES
I promise! Let us in!
Walter, wearing pajamas and pretending to be terrified, opens the door. The policemen are crowding around the door, so that for the moment, the Police Chief can’t get a good look at Walter.
JONES
Look!
It’s a kid!
POLICE CHIEF
Is it the same one who beat up the
Nazis?
JONES
You kidding? This one's scared stiff!
The Police Chief pushes his way into Walter’s room.
POLICE CHIEF
Okay, son, take it easy.
You’re all right
now.
A SCREAM comes from downstairs. Walter’s mother has arrived home to find Professor Morton’s body and a crowd of policemen in her home. Walter realizes it must be his mother who screamed.
WALTER
Mom!!!
Walter’s Mother runs into his room and hugs her son.
MOTHER
Walter! Are you all right?
WALTER
Yeah!
POLICE CHIEF
All right! All right now! Walter,
if that’s
your name, suppose you tell us everything
that happened here, from
the beginning!
WALTER
Okay.
I was home listening to the radio, when
this strange kid in a costume
barges in and says
he needs a house to stay in until a grown-up he
knows comes
by. I tried to push him out, but
you wouldn’t believe how strong he was!
POLICE CHIEF
I believe it!
WALTER
Then his friend came and said some
Nazis
were coming. And they tried
to leave, but the
Nazis shot the grown up!
The kid ran out the
back, and I ran upstairs and locked myself in
my
room!
MOTHER
Walter! Is that really true?
As the police chief tires to explain the situation to Walter’s Mother, Walter notices a telltale portion of his American Son costume sticking out from under his mattress. He surreptitiously tucked the exposed portion back under the mattress before anyone else notices.
POLICE CHIEF
It’s true, Ma’am.
I’ve seen the boy he’s
talking about.
He calls himself The American
Son, and he’s got a special ring that
gives him
super-strength …
The SOUND OF THE FRONT DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING interrupts the scene, and Walter’s Mother calls to him. We’re back to reality.
MOTHER
(off screen)
Walter!
Freeze frame! The action halts.
MOTHER
(off screen)
Walter! I’m home!
INT. WALTER’S LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT
Walter is dressed exactly as he was and in exactly the same position he was in when he started writing the story about The American Son. Walter’s been writing all this time, and we’ve seen the story he was writing.
Walter’s Mother enters the room.
MOTHER
What are you writing?
WALTER
Just a story.
Walter puts it away.
MOTHER
May I see it?
WALTER
It’s not finished yet.
MOTHER
I hope you washed the dishes.
WALTER
Oh-oh. I’m sorry. I
was going to! I’ll do
them right
now!
MOTHER
Oh, Walter!
WALTER
I’m really sorry.
I’ll do them right away!
MOTHER
Come one. I’ll wash, and you rinse and dry.
WALTER
No!
It’s my job! You sit here
and relax.
I’ll do them.
Walter goes into the kitchen. His Mother follows him.
INT. THE KITCHEN IN WALTER'S HOUSE -- NIGHT
The dinner dishes are stacked in the sink. Walter puts in some soap and turns on the hot water. He begins washing the dishes. His Mother stands in the doorway and talks to him.
MOTHER
What’s the story you’re writing
about?
WALTER
A kid who fights Nazis.
MOTHER
Don’t you think that’s more of a
job for
grown-ups to do?
WALTER
We’ve all got to do everything we can
to
win the war, even kids.
MOTHER
That’s true, Walter.
But as important as
winning the war is, kids shouldn’t have to stop
being kids. You know what I mean?
WALTER
No.
MOTHER
I’m glad you’re too young to be in
the fighting.
I think you should be
glad too.
WALTER
I’m not afraid.
MOTHER
I never thought you were.
It feels nice to fight
for what you know is good, to know you’re
one of
the good guys, but don’t fall in love
with the war.
Walter knows she’s thinking about his father.
WALTER
Dad could still be all right.
MOTHER
Walter, please ….
WALTER
There’s no proof he’s dead.
MOTHER
He was shot! His friends saw …
WALTER
Maybe some Arabs found him and have
been nursing him back to health!
MOTHER
I wish … Walter, I used to pray every
night,
but … Honey, I don’t think your father
is coming back.
She comes over and starts rinsing and drying the dishes.
MOTHER
Let me help with those.
WALTER
I can do it.
MOTHER
I want to help you!
They are silent for a moment.
MOTHER
I can think of one way we can help the
war effort. You know Mr. Tilsen,
who
works at the drug store? He
asked me
today if we’d like to go with him to the war
bond rally this
Saturday.
WALTER
What did you tell him?
MOTHER
Don’t you want to go?
It’s going to be like
a picnic, but they’ll be selling war bonds, and
collecting fat and scrap metal. And
it’s going
on all weekend.
WALTER
Can’t we just go by ourselves?
MOTHER
We can, if you want to.
I just thought it was
nice of Mr. Tilsen to ask us.
And I thought
maybe you could play some games with him.
You don’t play very much, Walter.
WALTER
I like to read.
MOTHER
Are you going to read all summer?
Why
don’t you go out with your friend Izzy
tomorrow and get some sun?
WALTER
Aw, Mom …
MOTHER
Please? For me?
WALTER
Okay.
MOTHER
That’s my boy!
She runs her hand through Walter’s hair. They continue with the dishes.
INT. WALTER’S BEDROOM -- DAY
It’s the next morning. Walter’s asleep in bed. His Mother calls from downstairs.
MOTHER
(off screen)
Walter! Breakfast’s ready! Walter!!!
Walter wakes up slowly, dragging himself out of bed.
INT. THE KITCHEN -- DAY
Walter’s Mother has just prepared some buttered toast, milk and cereal for Walter. He enters in his pajamas.
MOTHER
Look at you! You’re not even dressed yet!
WALTER
So?
School’s over.
MOTHER
I have to go to work.
If I leave now, will
you remember to wash the dishes?
WALTER
Yes.
I promise.
MOTHER
Then afterwards, I want you to get
dressed
and go see what Izzy’s doing. You
promised
to get out of the house today, remember?
WALTER
Yes, Mom.
MOTHER
Bye, dear. Eat your breakfast.
She gives him a kiss on the cheek and exists from the kitchen to go to work. Walter sighs and starts to each his breakfast.
MOTHER
(off screen)
Get some sun!
Walter sighs again.
EXT. THE FRONT DOOR OF IZZY’S HOUSE -- DAY
Walter walks up to the front door of Izzy’s house. He’s carrying several hardback books, and also some comic books, pencils, and the pad of paper on which he’s been writing his story about The American Son. Walter knocks on the door. Izzy’s mother, MRS. BERNSTEIN, answers.
WALTER
Good morning, Mrs. Bernstein.
Is Izzy
home?
MRS. BERNSTEIN
Just a minute, Walter.
I’ll send him out.
She disappears into the house. A moment later, she thrusts IZZY out the door. Walter and Izzy walk down the sidewalk.
EXT. A RESIDENTIAL STREET -- DAY
Walter and Izzy walk toward the playground.
IZZY
Sorry we couldn’t go inside.
Mom says I’ve
got to get some sun.
WALTER
Yeah.
My Mom too.
IZZY
Want to go to your house?
WALTER
Nah.
I promised I wouldn’t.
IZZY
It’s gonna be a long day.
WALTER
I figured we could go over to the
playground
and read.
IZZY
What have you got?
WALTER
I bought three comic books yesterday.
I
already read two of them.
He hands the comic books to Izzy, and shows him some of the books he brought along.
WALTER
I also brought “The Three
Musketeers” and
“A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s
Court.”
IZZY
I’ve read those.
When you’re done with
“Three Musketeers,” you should read
“Twenty
Years After.” It’s even better.
What’s the pad of paper for?
WALTER
Story I’m writing.
IZZY
A new one?
WALTER
Yeah.
IZZY
You gonna put me in this one?
WALTER
I don’t know.
Maybe.
EXT. THE PLAYGROUND -- DAY
This is the same playground where Walter imagined getting the power from the stars. Walter and Izzy relax in the shade of a tree. Izzy reads a comic book. Walter gets ready to continue writing his fantasy. In the background, other kids play in the playground.
WALTER
What would you do if you had a ring
that
gave you super strength?
IZZY
Beat up Herman Posallski.
WALTER
Wouldn’t you use it to fight Nazis?
IZZY
Yeah.
After I beat up Herman Posallski.
WALTER
Would you wear a costume and have a
secret
identity?
IZZY
I’d have to. Otherwise, Herman Posallski
would kill me if he ever caught
me without
the ring.
WALTER
My Mom says only grown-ups should fight
in the war. I think maybe I’d
have to give
the ring to a grown-up.
IZZY
Sure.
My Mom won’t let me have a pocket
knife, so it seems unlikely she’d
let me keep
a ring that gave me super powers.
WALTER
Would you give it to your Dad?
IZZY
I guess so. But if my Mom found out about
it first, she’d make me give
it to my Uncle
Benny. Maybe with
super-strength, he could
finally get a job.
He’s never had a steady
job in his life, but my Mom thinks Uncle
Benny should be President.
Walter thinks for a moment, and then starts to write his story again.
WALTER
(voice over)
That night, after the police left,
Walter told
his mother the truth about the American Son …
INT. WALTER’S BEDROOM -- NIGHT
We’re back in Walter’s bedroom. The police have all gone, and the lights are out, and Walter’s in bed, but he is unable to sleep. The bedroom door opens and Walter’s Mother looks in. She sees her son is awake, so she turns on the light and sits on the edge of the bed.
MOTHER
Can’t sleep?
Walter shakes his head no.
MOTHER
I’m not surprised.
You had a pretty exciting
night, didn’t you?
But the police have all
those Nazis locked up, so why don’t you try
to
forget everything and get some sleep.
WALTER
I have a confession to make.
But first, you
have to promise not to be mad.
MOTHER
Honey, you know I can’t promise that
until I
know what it is.
WALTER
But it’s not my fault!
MOTHER
You forgot to do the dishes, didn’t
you?
WALTER
It’s worse than that!
MOTHER
All I can promise is that no matter
what’s
happened, you’re my little boy and I’ll
always love you.
Now, what did you do
this time?
WALTER
You know that kid with the super
strength?
It was me!
MOTHER
You???
Walter reaches under his pillow and takes out the ring.
WALTER
The professor gave me this ring!
He told
me to use it to fight the Nazis!
MOTHER
You could have been killed!
WALTER
I had to do it!
I had to stop them!
MOTHER
Tomorrow morning, we’ll go straight
to
the police, and this time you’ll tell them
the truth!
WALTER
No, we can’t!
If the Nazis ever find out it
was me, they’ll kill us!
MOTHER
I’m sure we can trust the police!
WALTER
What if one of them makes a mistake?
What if someone says something?
MOTHER
You can’t keep the ring, Walter.
WALTER
I know. But if I’ve got to give it up, there’s
only one man I can
give it to … President
Roosevelt!
MOTHER
But Walter …
WALTER
Don’t you see?
This ring could win the war!
It’s
too important to give to anyone else!
Walter’s Mother looks at him and carefully thinks this over.
MOTHER
All right. I’ll ask the boss if I can get off
early tomorrow.
If we leave in the afternoon,
we can get to Washington on Saturday.
Walter gives his mother a hug.
INT. A RESIDENTIAL STREET -- DAY
It’s the next day in Walter’s story. Walter is walking down the street, heading to Mr. Tilsen’s drug store.
WALTER
(voice over)
The next day, while Walter’s mother
was still at work, Walter decided to get
some comic books to read on the trip to
Washington …
INT. THE DRUG STORE -- DAY
Walter is at the comic book rack, selecting some comic books. Nearby, newspapers are displayed with headlines about The American Son. Mr. Tilsen, standing behind the counter, scrutinizes Walter.
TILSEN
You hear about what happened last
night?
Heck, I guess the whole
country must have
heard by now.
WALTER
You mean about that kid?
TILSEN
Yeah.
I don’t suppose you have any
idea who he is, do you?
You think it
might be one of your friends?
Someone
you know?
WALTER
I doubt it.
Walter selects two comic books and brings them to Mr. Tilsen at the cash register.
TILSEN
Did your Mom tell you I asked her if
the
two of you would like to go to the rally
tomorrow?
WALTER
We’ll be out of town.
We have to visit a sick
friend. Out
of town.
TILSEN
Oh?
Well, if you’re back by Sunday, …
WALTER
We’ll be gone the whole weekend.
TILSEN
Okay.
Two comic books. That will
be twenty
cents.
Walter reaches into his pocket to bring out a handful of change. When he opens his fist, he sees that along with the coins, he’s brought out the ring. He quickly closes his fist, hoping Tilsen has not seen the ring. He surreptitiously pokes his fingers into his fist and brings out two dimes. He puts the remaining change and the ring back into his pocket. Walter gives Tilsen the twenty cents. Tilsen looks oddly at Walter, and starts to reach for something behind the counter. Then another CUSTOMER comes in. Tilsen hands Walter the two comic books.
TILSEN
Thank you, Walter.
WALTER
Thank you, Mr. Tilsen.
Walter exits the store with his comic books. The other customer buys a pack of cigarettes and then leaves. Tilsen waits behind the counter for a moment, and then goes to the front door of the drug store. He looks out to make certain Walter is gone. He then puts a “CLOSED” sign in the window, locks the door, and sneaks into the back room.
INT. BACK ROOM OF THE DRUG STORE -- DAY
The back room of the drug store has a big, secret radio for sending messages to Nazi spies. Mr. Tilsen seats himself at the radio and turns it on. He fiddles with some dials and speaks into the microphone.
TILSEN
This is Agent S-9 calling Agent S-13!
…
This is Agent S-9 calling Agent S-13! …
Come in
please!
He gets an answer.
VOICE OF S-13
(from the radio)
This is Agent S-13.
Heil Hitler!
TILSEN
Heil Hitler! I’ve learned the identity of the
boy with the ring, the one
who calls himself
“The American Son.” His
name is Walter
Jackson. He lives at
1419 Elmore Lane.
VOICE OF S-13
(from the radio)
Good.
We will kill him and take the ring.
TILSEN
He’s leaving town today, so we must
hurry.
Meet me in front of his
house in five minutes.
VOICE OF S-13
(from the radio)
Meet you? But you have always been so
careful not to expose your
activities as a
German spy!
TILSEN
I know. But this is one killing I want to
supervise personally.
Heil Hitler!
VOICE OF S-13
(from the radio)
Heil Hitler!
Tilsen turns off the radio. He unpacks several sticks of dynamite from a crate labeled “TNT.” Then he hears a loud knocking from the door to the drug store. Tilsen goes to see who is knocking.
INT. THE DRUG STORE -- DAY
Tilsen comes into the drug store and carefully closes the door to the back room. Tilsen opens the front door, and Izzy marches in.
IZZY
Hi, Mr. Tilsen.
Have you seen Walter?
He’s
not here, huh? Well, I thought if I
didn’t
find him, I’d hang around your store, reading
your comic books until
you get mad at me for
not buying anything and throw me out.
You
know, our usual routine.
Tilsen glares angrily.
EXT. THE FRONT YARD OF WALTER’S HOUSE -- DAY
Walter walks up the sidewalk to his house. The front door is open. Walter walks into his house.
MOTHER
(off screen)
Walter, is that you?
WALTER
Yeah.
INT. INSIDE THE FRONT DOOR, WALTER’S HOUSE -- DAY
Walter’s Mother comes up to him. She carries her suitcase.
MOTHER
My boss gave me the rest of the day
off. Are
you packed yet?
WALTER
Almost.
MOTHER
Well, hurry up!
The sooner we’ve given that
ring to the President, the better I’ll
feel.
She puts her suitcase down by the open door, and then she and Walter go upstairs. As soon as they Leave, S-13, a sinister Nazi spy, sneaks in with Tilsen.
INT. WALTER'S BEDROOM -- DAY
Walter has his little suitcase open on the bed. He packs, reaches under his bed, and adds his American Son costume to the clothes in the suitcase. His Mother enters.
MOTHER
What’s that?
WALTER
My American Son costume.
MOTHER
I thought you were giving up being a
superhero!
WALTER
They probably won’t let me into the
White
House if they think I’m just some ordinary
kid. I’ll need to wear this.
MOTHER
All right. Finish packing and let’s get going.
Walter closes his suitcase. He and his mother leave the room.
INT. INSIDE, AT THE FRONT DOOR, WALTER’S HOUSE -- DAY
Walter takes his suitcase over to the front door. He’s surprised to find his Mother’s suitcase isn’t there. He calls to his Mother, who is still upstairs.
WALTER
Mom!
Where’s your suitcase?
His mother calls down to him.
MOTHER
(off-screen)
I left it by the door.
Isn’t it there?
Walter looks through the open door and sees the suitcase just outside. He feels sure his mother putting it down inside the door. But he decides he must have been mistaken.
WALTER
Oh yeah. I see it.
EXT. IN FRONT OF WALTER’S HOUSE -- DAY
Walter carries his suitcase outside and puts it beside his Mother’s suitcase. It’s a little heavy for him, so he reaches into his pocket and puts on the ring. With the ring on his finger, he has no trouble carrying both suitcases over to his Mother’s car. As he puts the suitcases into the back seat, his Mother comes out of the house, closes and locks the front door, and joins him at the car.
MOTHER
All right, Walter.
Let’s get started.
They both get into the car and drive away. In a black sedan parked down the street, S-13 and Tilsen suddenly sit up. Tilsen starts the car, and the Nazis follow Walter and his mother.
INT. THE NAZI’S CAR -- DAY
S-13 advises Tilsen.
S-13
Don’t follow so closely.
We don’t want
to be too near when the bomb explodes.
TILSEN
You worry too much.
I know exactly how
much dynamite I put in her suitcase, and
exactly how
big the explosion will be.
S-13
It won’t harm the ring, will it?
The Fuhrer
will be furious if the ring is hurt.
TILSEN
A ring so powerful must be impervious
to
harm. All the dynamite will do
is kill the
American Son, and his mother!!!
EXT. CLOSE-UP OF WALTER’S PAD OF PAPER -- DAY
We see a close-up of the pad of paper on which Walter is writing his story. He has just finished the last line of dialogue spoken by Tilsen: “All the dynamite will do is kill the American Son, and his mother!!!” Walter stops writing.
WALTER
Izzy?
IZZY
Hmmm?
WALTER
What would you do if your mother was
driving you to Washington, and the Nazis
had
hidden a bomb in her suitcase?
IZZY
My Mom would never drive me to
Washington.
Not with the gas
rationing and the tire shortages
and everything.
If the Nazis wanted to blow
me up, she’d make them drive me in their
own car.
WALTER
But what if she did drive you and the
Nazis
hid a bomb in her suitcase? What
would
you do?
IZZY
Well, … my Mom would kill me if I ever
touched her suitcase.
I’d rather take my
chances with the bomb.
So I guess I’d get
blown up.
WALTER
That doesn’t help me much.
IZZY
It wouldn’t be too great for me,
either.
WALTER
It’s for the story I’m writing.
I need to figure
out how to get rid of the bomb.
IZZY
Give it back to the Nazis.
WALTER
Yeah, but I can’t figure out …
Walter notices Kathy and Betty playing on the swings, and stops speaking.
IZZY
What?
Izzy’s question brings Walter’s attention back away from Kathy.
WALTER
Never mind.
Walter starts writing again.
EXT. MORRISON DRIVE -- DAY
Walter and his Mother drive down the street where Kathy lives. As they approach her house in their car, Kathy comes out. Walter narrates his story:
WALTER
(voice over)
And so Walter and his mother started
their drive to Washington, little knowing
that the Nazis had planted a time bomb
in
Walter’s mother’s suitcase.
INT. INSIDE WALTER’S MOTHER’S CAR -- DAY
Walter sees Kathy. He takes off his ring and puts it in his pocket.
WALTER
Stop the car!
MOTHER
What is it?
WALTER
Please, Mom, stop the car!
Just for a
minute!
Please!
EXT. MORRISON DRIVE -- DAY
Walter’s Mother stops the car. Walter opens the car door, hops out and hurries over to Kathy. The Nazi’s car screeches to a halt.
INT. INSIDE THE NAZI’S CAR -- DAY
S-13
Back up! Back up!
EXT. MORRISON DRIVE -- DAY
The Nazi’s car backs up until it is at a safe distance from Walter’s Mother’s car. Walter notices this, and can’t quite figure out what’s going on, but it’s not really important to him at the moment. What’s important to him is that he speak to Kathy.
WALTER
Hi, Kathy. Um… I heard
about what
happened to you last night. Are
you all
right?
KATHY
What did you hear?
Do you know who
he is?
WALTER
Who?
KATHY
The American Son!
I have to find out
who he is, so I can thank him again!
He’s
wonderful!
Walter is tempted to confess to her, but he notices the Nazi’s car close by, and some instinct tells him to be cautious.
WALTER
I don’t know anything about him.
Walter’s Mother calls to him.
MOTHER
Com on, Walter!
You can talk to your friend
when we get back.
WALTER
I’ve got to go.
If I hear anything about the
American Son, I’ll let you know.
Walter climbs into the car, and he and his Mother drive away. The Nazi’s care follows at a safe distance.
INT. INSIDE WALTER’S MOTHER’S CAR -- DAY
Walter notices the Nazi’s car following them.
WALTER
Mom, I think the car back there may be
following us.
Walter’s Mother checks the rear view mirror.
MOTHER
Did you tell anyone else about that
ring?
WALTER
No!
I swear I didn’t! Slow
down. Maybe
I can see who’s in
that car.
Walter clambers into the back seat. His Mother slows their car down. Through the rear window, Walter sees the Nazi’s car slow down.
WALTER
They’re keeping their distance.
Walter notices his Mother’s suitcase beside him on the back seat. He ponders for a moment.
WALTER
When you finished packing, did you put
your
suitcase outside the front door, or inside?
MOTHER
Inside. Why?
Walter opens the suitcase and sees several sticks of dynamite wired to a ticking alarm clock.
WALTER
Step on the gas, Mom!
Quick!
MOTHER
What is it, Walter?
WALTER
Just step on the gas!
Quick!
MOTHER
I’m your mother, young man!
Now you tell
me what is going on here!
WALTER
There’s a bomb in your suitcase!
EXT. A STREET ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN -- DAY
Walter’s Mother slams her foot on the gas pedal and the car takes off! The Nazi’s car speeds up in pursuit!
INT. INSIDE WALTER’S MOTHER’S CAR -- DAY
In the back seat, as Walter takes the bomb and a scarf out of his Mother’s suitcase, he instructs his Mother on what to do next.
WALTER
Slow up as soon as we’re out of sight
of
that car. I’ll jump out and
get rid of the
bomb, but you keep going!
MOTHER
Be careful, honey.
WALTER
I’ll be okay.
I’ve got the ring!
Walter puts on the ring. He sees a turn in the road up ahead.
WALTER
Turn here!
EXT. A STREET ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN -- DAY
Walter’s Mother makes a hairpin turn and brakes. Walter leaps out of the car, then his Mother speeds up again. Walter hides behind a tree as the Nazi’s car speeds past. Walter runs after it and jumps onto the running board. He crouches down so that the Nazis don’t realize he’s there. He uses the scarf to tie the bomb to the car door (or any part of the car that is handy), and then he jumps off the running board, and races to a place to hide.
INT. INSIDE THE NAZI’S CAR -- DAY
Tilsen looks at his wristwatch.
TILSEN
Ten seconds more.
We will never again
have to deal with that cursed American Son
starting…. now!!!
EXT. THE STREET ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN -- DAY
The Nazi’s car blows up real good in a terrific fireball as the bomb explodes. Walter runs past the wreckage to meet his Mother, as she drives back to pick him up.
WALTER
Thanks, Mom.
He gets into the car and they drive off.
EXT. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- DAY
We see a montage of Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1943. Walter’s narration of his fantasy continues.
WALTER
(voice over)
Early the next morning, Walter and his
mother arrived in Washington, D.C.
EXT. THE GATE IN FRONT OF THE DRIVEWAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE -- DAY
Walter, wearing his American Son costume, walks up to a GUARD at the entrance to the White House.
WALTER
I’d like to speak to President
Roosevelt,
please.
A voice from the real world intrudes. It’s Izzy’s brother, DANNY.
DANNY
(off screen)
You goof!
Freeze frame!
EXT. THE PLAYGROUND -- DAY
Suddenly we’re back at the playground, where Walter is writing the story and Izzy is reading.
DANNY
(off screen)
You goof! You lazy bum!
WALTER
Huh?
Walter looks around, and sees DANNY, the 14 year old brother of Izzy. DANNY is a big, muscular kid, very athletic, and not as bright or as witty as his brother Izzy.
DANNY
Not you! I’m talking to my brother!
Izzy looks up at Danny.
DANNY
Didn’t Mom tell you to get some
exercise
today?
IZZY
I’m exercising my brain.
DANNY
Reading comic books?
IZZY
Sure.
This is my warm up.
Up strides JIMMY THOMPSON, a dull-witted bully and a friend of Danny’s. He’s also a big kid, but not as big as Danny.
JIMMY
Hey, Danny, you wanna team up with me
in
the three-legged race tomorrow?
DANNY
Sure.
JIMMY
I figure we can win that one easy, and
then
I’m gonna win the sack race, and the ring
toss, and you can win
everything else.
What about your
brother and his goony
friend? Are
they gonna compete in anything?
IZZY
I was planning to win the polo match,
but my
horse died. What about you,
goony friend?
WALTER
I don’t know.
JIMMY
You two are a disgrace to America.
It’s a
good thing our soldiers aren’t like you, or
Schicklgruber
would be paperhanging in
the White House.
KATHY
(off screen)
He was never a paperhanger.
Jimmy turns and sees Kathy and her friend Betty standing near them.
JIMMY
What?
BETTY
Don’t bother them, Kathy.
JIMMY
No!
Let your friend talk.
KATHY
Hitler was never a paperhanger.
DANNY
What’re you talking about?
Everybody knows
he started out as a paperhanger!!!
KATHY
That’s a myth.
JIMMY
I suppose you don’t think he changed
his
name from Schicklgruber, either.
KATHY
No, he didn’t.
JIMMY
What???? I’ve met a lot of stupid girls
before, but you really….
KATHY
His father’s name was changed from
Schicklgruber to Hitler many years
before Adolf Hitler was born, so Adolf
Hitler’s name was never Schicklgruber.
JIMMY
I don’t believe this!
KATHY
I don’t think people should make up
ridiculous
stories about Hitler being a paperhanger
named Schicklgruber, in
order to make him
look silly. He’s
a lot of terrible things, but he
isn’t silly.
JIMMY
What are you, some kind of Nazi spy?
KATHY
I’m an American citizen.
JIMMY
You don’t talk like it.
KATHY
I’m also from Germany.
BETTY
That’s none of his business.
KATHY
Why should I keep trying to hide it?
JIMMY
I knew it! She’s a dirty kraut!
KATHY
My family moved here from Germany years
ago. There are many good Americans
who
came from German.
JIMMY
You like Germans so much, maybe you’d
better go back there!
DANNY
Aw, leave her alone, Jimmy.
She’s just a
stupid little girl.
KATHY
We came here because we hated what
Hitler
was doing to our country. But
there are
still many good people left in Germany.
Jimmy is outraged and astonished at this statement. He turns to Danny.
JIMMY
Did you hear that???
Danny tries to reason with Kathy.
DANNY
Listen, kid, there may be some good
Germans who left Germany, but you
shouldn’t go around saying nice things
about
the ones still there.
KATHY
My grandparents are there!
Jimmy points to Walter.
JIMMY
Listen, Kraut!
You dirty Huns killed that
kid’s father, so you better shut up about
“good Germans” if you wanna stay in
America, or we’ll ship you back and
let our
soldiers kill you along with all the rest of the
stupid, stinking
Krauts.
BETTY
Come on, Kathy.
Let’s go.
Betty leads Kathy away. Izzy looks up at Danny and Jimmy.
IZZY
(sarcastically)
A fine example of democracy in action.
You
two make me proud to be an American.
JIMMY
Watch it, creampuff, or I’ll squash
you.
DANNY
Come on. Leave the little jerk alone.
Danny leads Jimmy off. Izzy watches them go. Walter just sits, stunned.
IZZY
You finished with your story?
WALTER
Did you know Kathy was a German?
IZZY
Sure.
Didn’t you?
WALTER
No.
IZZY
You like her, don’t you?
WALTER
Kathy? She’s okay, I guess. I
mean,
…. I don’t know.
IZZY
You know, we’re almost at the age
when
we don’t have to pretend that we still don’t
like girls.
WALTER
Your brother wasn’t very nice to
her.
IZZY
If you call being rude and obnoxious
not
being very nice..
WALTER
But you can’t blame a guy for hating
Germans,
can you?
IZZY
Anything Jimmy Thompson does I blame
him for. He’s a creep and a
bully.
WALTER
What about your brother?
IZZY
Danny means well.
His heart’s in the right
place; it’s just his brains that are dislocated.
But people like him.
You know, I’ve got a
genius I.Q., and I’ve gotten straight A’s all
my life. My brother’s a big goof
who has
trouble getting C’s, and most people feel
sorry for me because I’m
not more like him.
Well, I’ve had
just about all the fresh air I
can take. Let’s
go home.
They pick up their belongings and leave.
EXT. A RESIDENTIAL STREET -- DAY
Izzy and Walter are walking home.
IZZY
That was fun.
I spent the whole day without
getting any exercise at all.
Shall we do it
again tomorrow?
WALTER
Aren’t you going to the rally
tomorrow?
IZZY
Oh yeah, I forgot about that.
Are you going?
Walter shrugs his shoulders.
WALTER
I don’t know.
Maybe.
INT. WALTER’S BEDROOM -- DAY
Walter enters his bedroom, and flops down on the bed. He’s distraught.
WALTER
German! She’s a German!
He takes out his pad of paper and starts writing his story again.
WALTER
(voice over)
Soon Walter and his mother were
speaking
to the President of the United States.
INT. THE OVAL OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE -- DAY
FDR, seated in a wheelchair, is talking to Walter, who is still dressed in his American Son costume. Walter’s Mother stands in the background.
FDR
My young friend, I have read of your
thrilling exploits in the newspapers. You
are a fine example for the youth of America.
But even more inspiring than your single-
handed defeat of those Nazi
spies, is your
sacrifice of your ring, so that it may be used
more effectively
by the United States Armed
Forces. You
truly deserve to be called an
American Son!
Walter removes his mask.
WALTER
Thank you, Mr. President, but you can
call
me Walter. I’m Walter
Jackson. There’s
no reason for me
to keep my identity a secret
anymore.
FDR
Yes, your work is done.
You’ve used
the ring with courage and determination
to aid your
country, but now it’s time for
the grown-ups to step in and finish the job.
You may resume the ordinary life you led
before, returning to a childhood
unburdened
by the responsibilities this ring imposed.
Walter solemnly takes off the ring and hands it to FDR. His voice-over narration concludes the story (for now).
WALTER
(voice over)
And so Walter Jackson gave up the ring,
and
let the grown-ups fight the war, and he never
again wore the uniform of the
American Son.
The End.
INT. CLOSE-UP OF THE PAD OF PAPER -- DAY
We see a close-up of the pad of paper upon which Walter has just finished writing his story. Walter puts his pencil away.
INT. WALTER’S BEDROOM -- DAY
Walter puts down the pad of paper. He lies back on his bed and looks up at ceiling. Then his Mother calls him.
MOTHER
(off screen)
Walter!
WALTER
Yes, Mom?
MOTHER
(off screen)
Dinner’s almost ready.
Wash your hands
and come and help me set the table.
Walter gets up to do as he’s been told.
INT. THE DINING ROOM -- DAY
Walter is helping his mother set the table.
WALTER
Mom, did you ever know any Germans?
MOTHER
I know some families that came from
Germany. The Wagners, over on
Morrison
Drive…. I think they
have a daughter in your
class, don’t they?
WALTER
Don’t you hate them?
MOTHER
The Wagners? Why should I?
WALTER
They’re Germans!
MOTHER
They’re Americans now.
WALTER
Maybe they’re spies.
MOTHER
I’ve met Mr. and Mrs. Wagner.
I don’t
think they’re spies.
WALTER
But you can’t trust Germans!
MOTHER
Walter, you shouldn’t automatically
hate
all Germans. In fact, you
really shouldn’t
hate anyone.
WALTER
Mom!!!
MOTHER
Don’t misunderstand me.
America has to
win this war, and when it’s over, I want those
responsible for it to be punished. But I try not
to hate them.
Sometimes it’s hard, but I try.
Hate
is
a terrible thing, Walter. It’s
what the
Nazis built their government on. You don’t
want to be like them, do you?
WALTER
No
His Mother hugs him.
MOTHER
That’s my boy.
Now let’s eat.
She puts food on their plates and they sit at the table and begin their meal.
MOTHER
Did you and Izzy have a nice day?
WALTER
Yeah.
We went up to the playground.
MOTHER
I hope you got some exercise.
WALTER
Well, mostly I worked on that story
I’m
writing.
MOTHER
Walter, what’s going to happen to
you?
How are you going to be strong
and healthy
if you never exercise?
WALTER
I’m not very good at sports.
MOTHER
Maybe you’d be better if you did a
little
practicing. I bet you
could be quite a little
athlete if you put your mind to it. Are you
going to play in any of the games at the
rally
tomorrow?
WALTER
Do you want me to?
MOTHER
I’d like to watch you play, and cheer
you on.
I don’t care if you win
or lose; I’d just be
proud to see my son out there trying.
Don’t
ever give up on yourself, Walter.
Walter smiles weakly at his Mother.
INT. WALTER’S BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Walter is back in his bedroom, dressed in his pajamas. He sits on his bed for a minute, then takes out his story.
WALTER
Don’t ever give up.
He crosses out the ending he had previously written.
INT. CLOSE-UP OF THE PAD OF PAPER -- NIGHT
Walter crosses out the ending of his story,, starting with “And so Walter Jackson gave up the ring….” Then he substitutes, “Then the President said, ….”
INT. THE OVAL OFFICE -- DAY
We’re back in the White House with Walter, his Mother and FDR. Walter has just given his ring to the President.
WALTER
(voice over)
Then the President said, ….
FDR
We’re unveiling a new weapon Monday,
a
weapon that will be particularly useful now
that we have the ring.
I hope you and your
mother will be my honored guests here at
the White
House for the next few days, so
that you may join in the ceremonies.
WALTER
Can we, Mom? Please?
MOM
I should be getting back to work but…
well, …. Of course we can!
Walter and FDR smile.
INT. A GUEST BEDROOM IN THE WHITE HOUSE -- NIGHT
Walter is in bed in a guest room at the White House.
WALTER
(voice over)
That night, in a guest room at the
White
House, Walter was trying to sleep, when
he heard someone coming into the
room.
FDR, wearing the ring, walks into the room. He sees that Walter is awake, so he sits on the edge of the bed to talk to him.
FDR
Walter, may I speak with you?
WALTER
Sure.
FDR
I wanted to thank you again for all
you’ve
done. I didn’t fully
appreciate, until just a
few moments ago, how truly wonderful this
ring is.
About twenty years ago, I was struck
down with polio, and since then
I’ve had to
spend most of my time in a wheelchair.
But
I tried out this ring of yours tonight, and for
the first time in
years I could walk – freely,
easily, without the aid of braces on my legs.
And do you know what I did? I
went outside,
out onto the White House lawn, and I ran.
I ran through the grass, under the stars,
feeling the wind on my face and
the muscles
in my legs pumping up and down, and it was
the grandest feeling!
To escape the tyranny
of this crippling polio, and have the freedom
to
run again! But it only lasts as
long as I
wear the ring. Would you
mind if I kept it
for just a little while, until we turn it over to
the Army on
Monday?
WALTER
No sir.
FDR
I’m going to hate to give it up, but
of course
the ring must be used to set the world free
from another crippling
disease: Fascism.
You must already know that, or you wouldn’t
have been able to give up
the ring yourself.
You’re a
fine
boy, Walter.
WALTER
Thank you, Mr. President.
EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN -- DAY
A shining red one-man rocket-jet with an open cockpit is being unveiled at a ceremony on the White House lawn. The American Son (in costume), FDR (standing, wearing the ring), assorted GENERALS, Walter’s Mother, several REPORTERS, and a blond, muscular Army officer named MAJOR KELTON are present.
FDR
My friends, we are gathered here to
witness
the unveiling of a mighty weapon for the
democracies.
This jet rocket can speed to
the very heart of Germany in less than an
hour.
We had intended to use it to
bomb our
enemies, but we now have another weapon,
more formidable than any bomb.
This
weapon is the American soldier, with his
natural strength increased
many times over
by an amazing ring, invented by a noble
scientist who gave his
life for our cause.
It is now my
pleasure to introduce Major
John Kelton, the soldier we have selected
to wear
this wonderful ring. Major Kelton
will say a few words, after which he will
be presented with the ring by this
young
man, The American Son, who, as I’m
certain you are all aware, was the
first hero
to wear the ring. Major
Kelton, the
microphone is yours.
FDR seats himself in his wheelchair. He removes the ring, and hands it to Walter, as Major Kelton goes up to the microphone to speak.
KELTON
Mr. President, generals, ladies and
gentlemen.
I’m not much good at
making speeches. I’d
rather be
overseas, killing Krauts and Japs.
And
I promise you, with this ring
I’ll be able
to kill as many as it takes to force them to
their knees.
And then maybe I’ll kill a few
more, just to show them who’s boss.
America’s the greatest country on Earth,
with the greatest warriors,
but we can’t
stay the greatest unless we’re prepared to
wipe out anyone who
thinks they can lick
us. That’s
what I intend to do.
Kelton turns to Walter.
KELTON
Give me the ring, son.
Walter puts the ring on his own finger.
WALTER
No.
KELTON
Come on, kid, give me the ring!
WALTER
No!
I’ll give it to a fighter, but you’re just
a bully!
KELTON
I’ll show you who’s a bully if you
don’t give
me that ring this instant!
WALTER
No!
KELTON
Come on, kid!
Kelton tries to take the ring away from Walter, but Walter is too strong as long as he wears the ring. Kelton is so furious he unconsciously slips into his natural way of speaking, which is with a thick German accent.
&nbs