The Graduate

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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.

START OF MAIN TITLES

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

can be heard among them.

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

I guess - about my future.

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 looks in.

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

I think Ben has gotten beyond

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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