The Graduate
EXT. AMPHITHEATRE - DAY
SHOT - HELICOPTER'S POV -
Moving through clouds. The clouds separate and, far below, we can
see a giant outdoor amphitheatre. There is no SOUND but the WIND.
As we move closer to the amphitheatre, we can hear SNATCHES OF WORDS
and PHRASES as though from a public address system.
2EXT. AMPHITHEATRE - PODIUM - DAY - SHOT OF BEN
in cap and gown, standing in front of a microphone. The WIND is
BLOWING. He has to hold on to the papers from which he is reading.
3EXT. AMPHITHEATRE - SHOT OF AUDIENCE - DAY
Thousands of expressionless STUDENTS are sitting there.
4EXT. AMPHITHEATRE - SHOT OF PODIUM - DAY
BEN:
- and today it is right that we
should ask ourselves the one most
important question: What is the
purpose of these years, the purpose
for all this demanding work,
the purpose for the sacrifices
made those who love us? Were
there NOT a purpose, then all of
these past years of struggle, of
fierce competition and of uncom-
promising ambition would be mean-
ingless. But, of course, there
is a purpose and I must tell it
to you. I ask you to remember
this purpose always and I pledge
that I shall endeavor to carry it
with me forever.
5SHOT - AMPHITHEATRE AUDIENCE - DAY
staring at him impassively.
6INTERCUT BETWEEN SHOTS
of impassive students, seated, watching; of Ben standing
alone on the huge amphitheatre stage; of CLOSEUPS of Ben
speaking; of loudspeakers; of wind-blown papers on the
podium.
7EXT. PODIUM OF AMPHITHEATRE - DAY
BEN:
(continuing)
The purpose, my fellow graduates -
the purpose is -
He stops, trying to think of the word.
8CLOSEUP - BEN
He begins to sweat.
9SHOT - AMPHITHEATRE AUDIENCE
watching.
10SHOT - PODIUM of AMPHITHEATRE
Ben's hands searching through the pages of his speech.
The pages begin to blow away in the wind.
11SHOT - AMPHITHEATRE AUDIENCE - DAY
staring.
12SHOT - PODIUM OF AMPHITHEATRE - DAY
BEN:
- there is a reason, my friends,
and the reason is -
13CLOSEUP - BEN
He is in a panic. He looks up from his papers at the audience.
14SHOT - AMPHITHEATRE - DAY
The audience is gone.
15SHOT - PODIUM OF AMPHITHEATRE - DAY
BEN:
- the reason is - the purpose is -
SOUND of the WIND becoming the ROAR of an AIRCRAFT coming at
us through the air.
16SHOT - AMPHITHEATRE - DAY
Huge and empty. SOUND of AIRCRAFT.
CAPTAIN'S VOICE
Ladies and gentlemen, we are about
to begin our descent into Los Angeles -
SOUND of a SONIC BOOM.
CUT TO:
17INT. PLANE - CLOSEUP - BEN - NIGHT
His eyes open suddenly.
CAPTAIN'S VOICE
The sound you have just heard is the
landing gear locking into place. The
Los Angeles weather is clear and the
temperature is a pleasant 72. We do
not expect any traffic delay and will
make our four hour and eighteen minute
flight plan smack on the nose. We
enjoyed having you on board and look
forward to seeing you again in the near
future.
18SHOT
PULL BACK SLOWLY from a CLOSEUP of a television screen with
snow on it to reveal a long row of television sets along the
ceiling of the aircraft. There is snow on all of them.
19REVERSE ANGLE
PULL BACK from the CLOSEUP of Ben to reveal a row of passengers
staring straight ahead, their headsets on. Ben turns and
looks out the window.
20EXT. LOS ANGELES - FROM THE AIR - NIGHT
Los Angeles, at night, its lights stretching endlessly in every
direction.
SOUND - MUZAC and the STEWARDESS' LANDING SPEECH.
UNDER titles:
STEWARDESS' VOICE
Ladies and gentlemen please fasten your
seat belts in preparation for the landing
and observe the no smoking sign. After
we land, you will notice an increase in
the sound level as the thrust of the engines
is reversed to help reduce forward speed.
21INT. AIRPORT - MOVING SIDEWALK - NIGHT
Ben and the other passengers on the automatic sidewalk.
MAN'S VOICE
Your attention, please! American Airlines
Flight Number 4, 21 Club service, non-stop
to New York is now leaving from Gate
Number 40. All aboard, please.
28INT. BEN'S ROOM - NIGHT - CLOSEUP - BEN
His eyes are open and he is trying to remember something.
There are the SOUNDS of many people TALKING and LAUGHING
in other rooms. A RADIO nearby PLAYS MUSIC. After a
while, there is the SOUND of a DOOR OPENING. The SOUNDS
of the people TALKING are lower. MRS. TERHUNE'S voice
MRS. TERHUNE'S VOICE
-- associate editor of the college
newspaper in his junior year -
managing editor in his senior
year -
The SOUND of the DOOR CLOSING. Mrs. Terhune's VOICE and
the VOICES of the other guests FADE DOWN. Mrs. Terhune's
VOICE can be HEARD with varying clarity through the
remainder of the sequence.
After a few moments, there is the SOUND of a LIGHT SWITCH
being SNAPPED and light, as though from an overhead fixture,
falls across BEN's face. He does not move.
After a few moments, there is the SOUND of the RADIO being
SNAPPED OFF.
MR. BRADDOCK'S VOICE
What's the matter?
Ben's mouth opens a little bit and closes again.
MR. BRADDOCK'S VOICE
The guests are all downstairs,
Ben. They're all waiting to see you.
BEN:
Look, Dad - could you explain to
them that I have to be alone for
a while?
MR. BRADDOCK'S VOICE
These are all our good friends,
Ben. Most of them have known you
since - well - practically since
you were born.
Ben has not moved. Now the bed on which he is lying moves
as though someone has sat down upon it next to him.
MR. BRADDOCK'S VOICE
What is it, Ben?
The CAMERA BEGINS TO PULL BACK SLOWLY.
BEN:
I'm just -
MR. BRADDOCK
- worried?
BEN:
Well -
MR. BRADDOCK
About what?
Ben
MR. BRADDOCK
What about it?
BEN:
I don't know. I want it to be -
MR. BRADDOCK
To be what?
BEN:
(quietly)
Different.
As Ben says this, the door to the bedroom opens and
MRS. BRADDOCK
Is anything wrong?
MR. BRADDOCK
No! No - we're just on our way
downstairs!
Mr. Braddock gets off the bed and goes to a chair and
picks up Ben's jacket which is lying across it.
MRS. BRADDOCK
The Carlsons' are here.
MR. BRADDOCK
(to Mrs. Braddock)
They are?
(to Ben)
Come on.
Mr. Braddock puts the jacket on Ben.
MRS. BRADDOCK
They came all the way from
Tarzana.
MR. BRADDOCK
It's a wonderful thing to have
so many devoted friends.
They move out of the door, Mr. Braddock steering Ben.
29INT. HALLS AND STAIRWAY - NIGHT
PHIL and MIMI CARLSON are coming up the stairs as the
Braddocks are moving down.
MR. CARLSON
Hey - there's our award winning
scholar.
MRS. CARLSON
We're all very proud of you,
Ben.
BEN:
Thank you, Mrs. Carlson.
MR. CARLSON
Is that the new car out there?
The little red Wop job?
MR. BRADDOCK
That's Ben's graduation present.
MR. CARLSON
(putting his arm
across Ben's shoulder)
Won't have much trouble picking
them up in that, will you?
BEN:
Sir?
MR. CARLSON
The girls. The chicks. The -
the teeny boppers.
MRS. CARLSON
the teeny bopper stage - haven't
you, Ben?
Mrs. Carlson gives Ben a broad wink. Ben tries to smile
and return the wink politely.
BEN:
Yes, ma'am.
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"The Graduate" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 Nov. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/the_graduate_864>.
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