Rushmore Page #2

MAX:

Thank you for coming today, sir.

Max shakes Mr. Blume's hand. Mr. Blume smiles. But Max

doesn't go. He just stands there. Searching for the words.

MAX:

I really. I think it is. You're right about Rushmore. Look

around. It truly is a great school.

Mr. Blume nods. A little uneasy.

MAX:

Anyway, nice to have met you.

Max goes. Mr. Blume and Dr. Guggenheim watch him walk away

with Dirk.

MR. BLUME

What's his name again?

DR. GUGGENHEIM

Max Fischer.

MR. BLUME

He's a sharp little guy.

Dr. Guggenheim looks across the lawn at Max and his chapel

partner. He says wistfully:

DR. GUGGENHEIM

He's one of the worst students we've got.

INSERT COVER OF THE RUSHMORE YEARBOOK:

It is called the Rushmore Yankee. The masthead says Max is

editor-in-chief. There is a photograph of him laughing,

surrounded by his staff.

We cut to a series of pictures of:

The French Club, Debate Team, lacrosse, golf, drama,

Astronomy Society, Glee Club, student council, Model United

Nations, Stamp & Coin Club, Gun Club, Bombardment Society,

calligraphy, fencing kung fu, beekeeping, and J.V. water

polo.

Max is president or captain of virtually every one of these.

Other photographs show Max pole-vaulting, dancing at the

Christmas ball, and giving a thumbs up from the cockpit of a

Piper Club.

TITLE:

September

INT. DR. GUGGENHEIM'S OFFICE DAY

A paneled room with wooden floors, an old electric fan in

the windowsill, and paintings of ducks and geese on the

walls. Dr. Guggenheim is seated at his little oak desk. Max

sits across from him and in an antique leather armchair.

DR. GUGGENHEIM

We're putting you on what we call sudden death academic

probation.

MAX:

(pause) And what does that entail ?

DR. GUGGENHEIM

It entails that if you fail another class, you are going to

be asked to leave Rushmore.

MAX:

I see.

(raises an eyebrow)

In other words, I'll be expelled.

DR. GUGGENHEIM

Right.

Silence.

MAX:

Dr. Guggenheim. I don't want to tell you how to do your job.

But the fact is no matter how hard I try, I still might

flunk another class. And if that means I have to stay on for

a post-graduate year, then so be it. But if --

DR. GUGGENHEIM

We don't offer a postgraduate year.

MAX:

Well. We don't offer it yet.

(pause)

And what about the fact that I'm probably dyslexic?

DR. GUGGENHEIM

You're not dyslexic.

MAX:

Well, I'm a terrible speller.

DR. GUGGENHEIM

Just bring up the grades.

Max sighs. He looks out the window and says quietly:

MAX:

Do you remember how I got into this school?

DR. GUGGENHEIM

Yeah, I do. You wrote a play.

MAX:

That's right. A little one act. And my mother read it and

felt I should go to Rushmore. And you read it, and you gave

me a scholarship, didn't you ?

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