Cheers for Miss Bishop

James Corcoran, Midwestern U. President:
[addresses registering students] I know some of you have walked miles to get here, and that everyday for four years you'll have to walk those miles; through rain, sleet and snow. But I know this: the end will pay you for those hardships; because the end is wisdom. Wisdom is first cousin to freedom, and freedom is the glory of our nation - and our people. Let us pray: almighty and most merciful God; here on free land, under free air, we have tried to build a house for wisdom, free to all. Look favorably upon us, O Lord. For today we light a lamp of learning. May it shine through the years to be. Amen.

James Corcoran, Midwestern U. President:
You see, I heard Abe Lincoln talk at Gettysburg - and he talked sense. You know Ella, we've got something here in this country - the idea of people being free. But it's got to be taught and retaught, Ella, to each new crop of youngsters: the value of freedom.

Ella Bishop:
[giving a toast] So here's to our nation: she's young, she's growing too fast, she makes a lot of mistakes, but somehow she does manage to keep her people free. May she always.

Ella Bishop:
[Slowly rising from her seat] President Corcoran, do you mean... Well, of course I know you couldn't mean... But I can't help thinking that you might mean... President Corcoran, do you mean I...

James Corcoran, Midwestern U. President:
Oh dear dear dear. There's a heap of repetition in that sentence... for a teacher of freshman English!

Ella Bishop:
Oh...

James Corcoran, Midwestern U. President:
I take it you're going to accept?

Ella Bishop:
Accept? Accept? Well, if I could... If I could only... Well, President Corcoran! [Kisses him on the forehead then runs away]

John Stevens:
[Reading from J. M. Barrie's book, The Little Minister] The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another.

Ella Bishop:
[Interrupting] Would you mind reading that again? Just the last sentence.

John Stevens:
The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story... and writes another.

Ella Bishop:
I suppose that's true, isn't it? We dream dreams and... Do go on.

John Stevens:
[Examining the label on a wine bottle] Orvieto...

Ella Bishop:
Orvieto? Should know but I don't.

John Stevens:
It's a little Italian town, Orvieto. Sunny and warm, it's flooded with warm sunlight. I remember once seeing one beggar there with a beautiful flower and a ragged hat. He was perfectly happy.

Ella Bishop:
A beggar with a flower in his ragged hat. And sunlight...

John Stevens:
I stayed there for weeks and weeks. I ate chestnut bread with the peasants and drank the new wine. And *I* was perfectly happy. Then I went on to Rome; I did everything the guidebook said but it wasn't the same.