Rushmore Page #6

MAX:

Sure.

MISS CROSS:

Has it ever crossed your mind that you're way too young for

me?

Max looks up. Miss Cross smiles faintly. Silence.

MAX:

It's crossed by mind that you might consider that a

possibility, yes.

MISS CROSS:

Not to mention that you're a student -

MAX:

And you're a teacher. And never the twain shall meet. I

know, I'm not trying to pressure you into anything, Miss

Cross. I'm surprised you brought it up so bluntly.

MISS CROSS:

I just want to make sure -

MAX:

We've become friends, haven't we?

MISS CROSS:

Yes.

MAX:

Good. That's all that matters to me.

Max thinks for a second, then presses on:

MAX:

And the truth is neither one of us has the slightest idea

where this relationships is going. We can't predict the

future.

MISS CROSS:

We don't have a relationship, Max.

MAX:

But we're friends.

MISS CROSS:

Yes. And that's all we're going to be.

MAX:

That's what I meant by relationship. You want me to grab a

dictionary?

MISS CROSS:

I just want to make sure we understand each other.

MAX:

I understand. You're not attracted to me. C'est la vie. I'm

a big boy.

MISS CROSS:

Max. You're fifteen. Attraction doesn't enter into it.

MAX:

If you say so. All I'm getting at is I've never met anyone

like you. Take that for whatever it's worth.

She thinks about this for a minute.

MISS CROSS:

I think I can safely say I've never met anyone like you,

either.

MAX:

You haven't, have you?

Miss Cross shakes her head. Max says quietly:

MAX:

You want to shake hands?

She puts out her hand and they shake hands across the desk.

But they don't let go. They just look at each other.

MAX:

I'm glad we had this conversation.

MISS CROSS:

Me too.

They finally let go of each other's hands. Miss Cross looks

away. She's not exactly sure what they just decided.

MAX:

By the way. Are you free? Thursday night?

MISS CROSS:

Free for what?

MAX:

Dinner.

She looks at Max strangely.

MAX:

We're getting a group together after the play.

INSERT PLAYBILL:

SERPICO:

A new play by Max Fischer.

INT. AUDITORIUM - NIGHT

A very realistic set for a New York tenement apartment.

Four men sit at a table. Three wear dark suits: O'Reilly,

Burnum and Fields. One has long hair, a beard, leather pants

and a big silver crucifix around his neck. This is Frank

Serpico. They are all played by high schoolers.

FRANK:

I can't wear a wire! They're feeling me up every day!

O'REILLY

Come on, Frank. You'll have complete protection.

FRANK:

(walking off)

I've heard that one before. I got to go put a dime in the

meter.

BURNUM:

Look, Officer Serpico. If you agree to testify in open court

-

Frank wheels around and knocks the clipboard out of

O'Reilly's hands. He grabs O'Reilly by both arms. Fields

instinctively draws his firearm.

FRANK:

Promise me one thing, O'Reilly. You're going to follow this

all the way. To the end (snaps) Of the line, (snaps) where I

got to be.

O'REILLY

(looking Frank right in the eye) So help me, God.

The audience is deeply engrossed. A row of small kids are

sitting on the floor very front.

Max watches from the wings. He looks out at the audience.

He sees Mr. Blume smiling proudly in the third row.

He sees Miss Cross sitting next to a big, curly-haired

Medical Student in surgical scrubs. She leans close to him

and whispers something in his ear. He smiles and nods and

whispers something back.

Max stares at them blankly as a shoot-out erupts onstage.

INT. BACKSTAGE - NIGHT

Frank comes offstage with a bandage of his cheek and a cane

in his hand. Max is waiting for him backstage. Max has on a

headset and carries a clipboard. He is extremely keyed-up.

MAX:

What happened to the cannoli line?

Max follows Frank as Frank walks quietly toward the dressing

room.

MAX:

You're supposed to say, "Forget about it, Sanchez -"

FRANK:

(very angry) I made a mistake, all right? It doesn't make

any difference, anyway.

MAX:

Hey, I'm letting it go. But don't tell me it doesn't matter.

Every line matters.

FRANK:

(yelling) Get off my back!

MAX:

Don't f*** with my play!

Frank turns around and punches Max in the nose. Max takes a

swing and misses and they wrestle as people try to break it

up.

INT. AUDITORIUM - NIGHT

The whole cast is onstage bowing as the audience applauds.

Some of the actors motion to the wings.

Max walks out on the stage. He has a bloody Kleenex in each

nostril. He waves to the audience. The applause roars.

INT. BACKSTAGE - NIGHT

The crowded dressing rooms. Actors are taking off their

make- up. Max is drinking a champagne cocktail and talking

with his father and an elderly Woman.

WOMAN:

I thought the acting tonight was excellent.

MAX:

It was better in rehearsals.

(to his father) I'll catch up with you later, Dad. I've got

a dinner to go to.

MR FISCHER:

(interested) Oh, yeah?

MAX:

(pause)

Yeah. Cast and crew only.

Mr. Fischer feels left out but tries not to show it.

MR FISCHER:

OK. Well, have a good time.

Miss Cross walks over to Max through the crowd. Her friend

the medical student follows behind her. Max's expression is

polite but inscrutable.

MISS CROSS:

That was great, Max.

MAX:

I'm so glad you could come.

MISS CROSS:

I want you to meet a friend of mine. John Coats. Max

Fischer.

MAX:

(not looking at him)

Who's this guy?

MISS CROSS:

(pause) John.

Max looks at John. John smiles. Pause.

JOHN:

I really liked your play, man. It was really cool.

Max nods. He drinks a long sip of his champagne cocktail.

MISS CROSS:

What happened to your nose?

MAX:

I got punched in the face.

(to John) What's your excuse?

Mr. Blume comes over to them.

MR BLUME:

Am I going to get to meet your dad tonight, Max?

MAX:

Nah. The old man's on call tonight. Mr. Blume, I'd like you

to meet Miss Cross, and I didn't catch this young

gentleman's name.

INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

A fancy restaurant. Max is having dinner with Mr. Blume,

Miss Cross and John. Max is drunk.

MAX:

I like your nurse's uniform, guy.

JOHN:

They're OR scrubs.

MAX:

(pause)

OR they?

Mr. Blume laughs suddenly and wine goes up his nose. Max

glances to him slyly, then looks back at John.

MAX:

Well, they're totally inappropriate for the occasion.

JOHN:

Well, I didn't know we were going to dinner.

MAX:

That's because you weren't invited.

MR BLUME:

Take it easy, Max.

MISS CROSS:

(angry) You're the one who ordered him a Scotch and soda.

MAX:

What's wrong with that? I can write a hit play. Why can't I

have a drink when I want to unwind a little? So tell me,

Curly. How do you know Miss Cross?

JOHN:

We went to Harvard together.

MAX:

(shrugs)

And I wrote a hit play. And directed it. So I'm not sweating

it, either.

MR BLUME:

(signaling the waiter)

I'm going to get the check.

MAX:

What do you think you're doing?

MR BLUME:

I'm getting the -

MAX:

No, you're not.

The Waiter comes over. Max intercepts him:

MAX:

I just wanted to thank you again for accommodating us. We

only expected to be a party of three, but somebody invited

himself along. I apologize.

WAITER:

That's perfectly all right.

The waiter walks away. Miss Cross frowns.

MISS CROSS:

You're being rude, Max.

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