Rushmore Page #9

MAX:

That's your handwriting, isn't it?

Max shows her the Henry James quote. Miss Cross nods.

MAX:

Not bad. Except it's probably bad form for a teacher to

write in a library book.

MISS CROSS:

It wasn't a library book when I wrote in it.

MAX:

What do you mean?

MISS CROSS:

I gave this book to Rushmore.

Max looks puzzled. Miss Cross shows him a little card inside

the front cover of the book.

INSERT LIBRARY BOOK:

In Memory of EDWARD APPLEBY

Class of '87

MISS CROSS:

My husband gave me this book in the seventh grade. And he

went to Rushmore. So when he died I put it in the library

here.

MAX:

So that's who that is. Edward Appleby.

(looks to Miss Cross)

You already knew him in the seventh grade?

MISS CROSS:

I knew him all my life.

(looks to Max)

You remind me of him, you know?

MAX:

I do? How?

MISS CROSS:

Well. Weren't you in the Rushmore Beekeepers?

MAX:

(frowns)

Yeah. I was President of them.

MISS CROSS:

He founded that club.

MAX:

(pause)

I get your meaning. I founded a few clubs myself in my day.

An acorn falls on Max's head. He looks up. There is no one

there, but a scurrying sound is heard. Max frowns.

MAX:

What was that? A squirrel?

Mr. Blume is crouched just out of view on the roof. He looks

back over his shoulder and sees a small, white-haired,

Indian GROUNDSKEEPER looking at him. The groundskeeper is

holding a rake. Mr. Blume rises slowly. He whispers:

MR. BLUME

Is this the natatorium?

The groundskeeper frowns and shakes his head.

MAX:

Do you think we can be friends again, Miss Cross? In a

strictly platonic way?

MISS CROSS:

Of course, I do. Do you think you can make a go of it and

settle down at Grover Cleveland?

MAX:

Yeah. But I need a tutor.

MISS CROSS:

I'll be your tutor.

MAX:

(looking into her eyes)

You will?

Miss Cross smiles and nods.

MAX:

Thank you.

(pause)

What are you doing tomorrow?

CUT TO:

Mr. Blume sitting at the desk in his office. Max yells at

him over the speakerphone:

MAX:

She's taking me to a field trip!

MR. BLUME

(hesitates)

Great! You need anybody to chaperone?

MAX:

You'd take time out of your business to do that?

MR. BLUME

Business schmizness.

OCTOBER MONTAGE:

Max and Miss Cross ride in the backseat of a van full of

first graders. Max is telling a story and everyone is

laughing. Mr. Blume is up front quietly driving the van. One

of the first graders sits in the passenger seat staring at

him. They go through the front gates of the zoo.

Miss Cross stands at the front of her classroom drawing a

complicated geometric proof on the chalkboard. Max sits

alone across from her nodding earnestly and taking notes.

Max and Miss Cross play doubles against Mr. Blume and Dirk

on the court in the Blume's backyard. Max coaches Miss Cross

on her backhand. Mr. Blume watches her from across the net.

Mrs. Blume watches all of them from an upstairs window.

The Grover Cleveland Science Fair. Max sits proudly in front

of his project. It is a paper mache tidal wave looming over

a little coastal village with screaming peasants.

Margaret Yang is across the aisle being photographed with a

trophy for Best of Show. Her project is called Light, Color,

Sound and Magnetism. She is staring at Max, but he doesn't

notice her.

Mrs. Whitney hands Max a geometry test. It has a C+ on it.

Max looks quickly to Mrs. Whitney, surprised. She smiles and

shakes his hand.

A huge banner for the Grover Cleveland Owls is stretched

across the endzone of the football field. Max, dressed in a

shiny blue and grey jumpsuit, bursts through the banner and

onto the field doing cartwheels and flips. The football

teams scrambles out behind him.

Max points out to different parts of the crows and yells

football cheers. Dirk is sitting in between Mr. Blume and

Miss Cross in the stands. Mr. Blume stares at Miss Cross.

Miss Cross looks back and Mr. Blume and smiles. Dirk says

significantly:

DIRK:

Where's Mrs. Blume tonight, Mr. Blume?

And your sons Ronny and Donny?

MR. BLUME

I haven't the slightest idea, Dirk.

INT. GROVER CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL. DAY

Max burst through a doorway followed by a little ENTOURAGE

of underclassmen that includes a sophomore named WOODY.

Woody has long hair and a Led-Zepplin shirt. He is carrying

a clipboard.

They go down the hallway and quickly pass Margaret Yang. She

is very nicely dressed in a grey turtleneck.

MARGARET:

Hi, Max.

MAX:

Hi.

Max keeps walking.

He stops. He turns back to Margaret Yang. He looks her up

and down. She is slightly uneasy. Max looks to Woody. Woody

shrugs. Max looks back to Margaret.

MAX:

What was your name again?

MARGARET:

Margaret Yang.

MAX:

Are you free seventh period?

MARGARET:

Well, I'm supposed to have guitar lessons.

MAX:

(pause) Classical?

MARGARET:

Rock.

MAX:

You can get out of it.

(to Woody)

put Margaret down for 3:30 in the auditorium, Woody.

Max turns away and walks briskly down the hall with his

entourage. He calls back to Margaret:

MAX:

And bring a headshot.

EXT. MISS CROSS' HOUSE. DAY

A nice two story house with a wide lawn and lots of trees.

Mr. Blume knocks on the front door and waits nervously. He

looks around the yard with his hands in his pockets.

The door opens. Miss Cross is holding a plate of sliced

carrots. She looks at Mr. Blume curiously and smiles.

MISS CROSS:

Hi, Herman.

MR. BLUME

How are you, Rosemary?

MISS CROSS:

Fine, thanks. I just got home and I'm having a little snack.

MR. BLUME

Having some carrots.

Miss Cross nods. Mr. Blume looks up at the house.

MR. BLUME

Nice house.

MISS CROSS:

Yeah, This isn't mine. I'm' just kind of housesitting.

(pause)

Were you in the neighborhood?

Mr. Blume nods. There is an awkward silence.

MR. BLUME

Didn't Max have anything planned for us today? A trip to the

museum or something?

MISS CROSS:

Did he? I thought he was rehearsing this evening.

MR. BLUME

Oh. That's right. His new play. He's going to be in this

one, isn't he?

Miss Cross nods. Mr. Blume shakes his head.

MR. BLUME

He's really making a go of it over at Grover Cleveland.

MISS CROSS:

I think he's on track. It's nice, isn't it?

Mr. Blume nods. Silence.

MISS CROSS:

You want a carrot?

MR. BLUME

Yeah. I'll have one of those.

Mr. Blume takes one of the carrots and has a bite of it.

Miss Cross watches him chewing. She smiles slightly.

MR. BLUME

Well. Max had said something about us all going to the

horseraces, so I'm sure I'll see you soon.

Miss Cross nods. Mr. Blume takes another bite of his carrot

and throws the rest of it into the yard. Miss Cross laughs.

Mr. Blume smiles and shrugs. He starts to go.

MISS CROSS:

Or we could go for a walk, if you want.

Mr. Blume stops and turns around quickly.

MR. BLUME

Sure.

MISS CROSS:

It's nice out, don't you think?

Kind of brisk.

Mr. Blume nods.

MISS CROSS:

Let me get a sweater. I'll be right back.

She goes inside. Mr. Blume stands alone on the doorstep. He

rubs his hands together to warm-up.

INT. MUSEUM. DAY

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