Max Fischer Meets Miss Cross (Rushmore) Lyrics
EXT. SOCCER FIELD. DAY
Miss Cross is sitting on the bleachers watching her class play Capture-the-Flag. She opens a book. It is 20,000 Leagues under the Sea. She puts a cigarette in her mouth and searches in her pocket for a lighter.
A lit match appears in front of her. Max is holding it. He is wearing a maroon beret, Miss Cross looks at him curiously.
MAX
Hello.
MISS CROSS
Hi.
Miss Cross lights her cigarette on Max's match.
MISS CROSS
I like your hat.
MAX
Thank you. You're a teacher here, aren't you?
MISS CROSS
Uh-huh.
MAX
What subject do you teach?
Miss Cross is sitting on the bleachers watching her class play Capture-the-Flag. She opens a book. It is 20,000 Leagues under the Sea. She puts a cigarette in her mouth and searches in her pocket for a lighter.
A lit match appears in front of her. Max is holding it. He is wearing a maroon beret, Miss Cross looks at him curiously.
MAX
Hello.
MISS CROSS
Hi.
Miss Cross lights her cigarette on Max's match.
MISS CROSS
I like your hat.
MAX
Thank you. You're a teacher here, aren't you?
MISS CROSS
Uh-huh.
MAX
What subject do you teach?
MISS CROSS
Well, I teach first grade, so I do all the subjects. Except music.
MAX
And this is your first year at Rushmore, I take it.
Miss Cross nods.
MAX
I see. How long have you been a smoker, if you don't mind me asking?
MISS CROSS
(surprised)
Hm. Let's see. How old are you?
MAX
Fifteen.
MISS CROSS
Since I was your age.
MAX
(shocked)
You're kidding.
Miss Cross shakes her head. Max can't believe this.
Well, I teach first grade, so I do all the subjects. Except music.
MAX
And this is your first year at Rushmore, I take it.
Miss Cross nods.
MAX
I see. How long have you been a smoker, if you don't mind me asking?
MISS CROSS
(surprised)
Hm. Let's see. How old are you?
MAX
Fifteen.
MISS CROSS
Since I was your age.
MAX
(shocked)
You're kidding.
Miss Cross shakes her head. Max can't believe this.
MAX
You should quit.
MISS CROSS
You're right.
MAX
(going back to his book) And I should mind my own business.
Miss Cross laughs. Max looks back up.
MAX
Where'd you go to school, by the way?
MISS CROSS
Harvard.
MAX
Really? That's a coincidence. My top schools where I want to apply to are Oxford and The Sorbonne. But my safety is Harvard.
MISS CROSS
(smiles)
That's very ambitious.
MAX
Thank you.
You should quit.
MISS CROSS
You're right.
MAX
(going back to his book) And I should mind my own business.
Miss Cross laughs. Max looks back up.
MAX
Where'd you go to school, by the way?
MISS CROSS
Harvard.
MAX
Really? That's a coincidence. My top schools where I want to apply to are Oxford and The Sorbonne. But my safety is Harvard.
MISS CROSS
(smiles)
That's very ambitious.
MAX
Thank you.
MISS CROSS
What are you going to major in?
MAX
Well. I haven't decided for sure. But probably a double major in Mathematics and Pre-Med. What was your major?
MISS CROSS
Latin-American studies.
MAX
Ah, that's interesting. Did you hear they're not going to teach Latin here anymore?
MISS CROSS
This was more like Central America.
MAX
(pause)
Sure. Central America and whatnot. But moving on: they're gonna cancel Latin. They've got to make room for Japanese.
MISS CROSS
Really? That's too bad. All the Romance Languages come from Latin.
MAX
They do, don't they?
(pause)
Like French, probably.
She nods. She smiles.
MISS CROSS
Nihilo sanctum estne?
MAX
That's Latin, isn't it?
MISS CROSS
Yeah.
MAX
What does it mean?
MISS CROSS
Is nothing sacred?
Long pause. Looking right at her.
MAX
Sic transit gloria. Glory fades. I'm Max Fischer.
Max slides down the bench and puts out his hand.
MISS CROSS
Hi.
They shake hands.
What are you going to major in?
MAX
Well. I haven't decided for sure. But probably a double major in Mathematics and Pre-Med. What was your major?
MISS CROSS
Latin-American studies.
MAX
Ah, that's interesting. Did you hear they're not going to teach Latin here anymore?
MISS CROSS
This was more like Central America.
MAX
(pause)
Sure. Central America and whatnot. But moving on: they're gonna cancel Latin. They've got to make room for Japanese.
MISS CROSS
Really? That's too bad. All the Romance Languages come from Latin.
MAX
They do, don't they?
(pause)
Like French, probably.
She nods. She smiles.
MISS CROSS
Nihilo sanctum estne?
MAX
That's Latin, isn't it?
MISS CROSS
Yeah.
MAX
What does it mean?
MISS CROSS
Is nothing sacred?
Long pause. Looking right at her.
MAX
Sic transit gloria. Glory fades. I'm Max Fischer.
Max slides down the bench and puts out his hand.
MISS CROSS
Hi.
They shake hands.
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