The Graduate Page #13

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ELAINE:

Oh - no.

Ben backs up.

BEN:

Elaine -

ELAINE:

Oh my God -

Moving along the wall as though to keep as far from Ben

as possible, Elaine moves away from the door.

BEN:

Please.

Elaine walks a few steps toward the other side of the room

then turns back toward Ben. The tears are starting out

of her eyes.

BEN:

No - don't cry -

ELAINE:

GET OUT!

BEN:

Don't cry.

(holds the package

out to her)

ELAINE:

Get out of here.

She moves toward him as though to hit him. He backs into

the hall. Elaine SLAMS the door shut.

ELAINE:

(holding the door)

Get out!

132INT. ROBINSON HALL - DAY

Mrs. Robinson stands at the end of it, looking at Ben.

MRS. ROBINSON

(calmly)

Goodbye, Benjamin.

133SHOT - BENJAMIN

He looks at her in horror. He starts to back down the

hall toward the stairs, holding the package against

his chest.

134INT. SPECIAL SET - ROBINSON HALL - DAY - SHOT - PULLING

BACK FROM MRS. ROBINSON

She is standing there, perfectly calm. She gets further

and further away as though it is a very long hall in a

very bad dream.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

135INT. BEN'S ROOM - NIGHT

Ben sits cross-legged on his bed in the dark, his back

against the fishtank, smoking.

DISSOLVE THROUGH TO:

136EXT. ROBINSON HOUSE - DAY

Ben drives by in his car. He looks at the house.

DISSOLVE TO:

137INT. BEN'S ROOM - DAY

Ben dressed differently, stands by the window overlooking

the backyard. Over his shoulder, we can see Mr. Braddock

down by the pool, dressed in a sweater, cleaning the pool

with a long-handled scoop. Mr. Braddock looks up at Ben's

window. Ben moves aside.

DISSOLVE TO:

138EXT. ROBINSON HOUSE - DAY

Ben is standing behind a tree watching the

Robinson house. In the driveway of the Robinson house,

Elaine is getting into the Robinson car. Mr. Robinson

is putting Elaine's luggage into the car. Mrs. Robinson

stands at the door. Mr. Robinson gets into the car and

starts it. The car drives down the driveway and down the

street.

DISSOLVE TO:

139INT. BEN'S ROOM - NIGHT

Ben, dressed differently again, sits in a chair by his

desk. He is writing. On the piece of paper is written:

DEAR ELAINE, ELAINE, ELAINE, ELAINE, and her name several

dozen times. He stops and looks up.

DISSOLVE TO:

140INT. BRADDOCK KITCHEN - DAY

It is early morning. We see a swinging door pushed open

to reveal:
Mr. Braddock, dressed in a bathrobe, standing

at the kitchen counter by the window through which we can

see an orange tree. Mr. Braddock is pouring orange juice

from a MINUTE MAID container. Ben stands inside door.

MR. BRADDOCK

Say that again.

BEN:

I'm going to marry Elaine Robinson.

MR. BRADDOCK STARTS TO SMILE.

MR. BRADDOCK

Well - well - well -

He almost giggles as he crosses to Ben and takes his hand

to shake it. Mrs. Braddock appears in the doorway. Ben

is shaking his father's hand.

MRS. BRADDOCK

What's happening?

MR. BRADDOCK

Ben says he and Elaine are getting

married.

MRS. BRADDOCK

I don't believe it.

MR. BRADDOCK

That what he says. Right?

BEN:

I'm going up to Berkeley today.

MRS. BRADDOCK

Oh, Ben - this is so - exciting -

MR. BRADDOCK

Come on, let's call the Robinsons.

We've got something to celebrate.

BEN:

No. I think you'll want to wait

on that.

MRS. BRADDOCK

They don't know?

BEN:

No - they don't.

MRS. BRADDOCK

Well - when did you decide all

this?

BEN:

About an hour ago.

MR. BRADDOCK

Wait a minute. You talked to

Elaine this morning?

BEN:

No. She doesn't know about it.

MR. BRADDOCK

She doesn't know that you're

coming up to Berkeley?

BEN:

No. Actually - she doesn't

know about us getting married

yet.

MRS. BRADDOCK

When did you two talk this over?

BEN:

We haven't.

MR. BRADDOCK

Ben - this whole idea sounds

pretty half-baked.

BEN:

No - it's not. It's completely

baked. It's a decision I've made.

MRS. BRADDOCK

But what makes you think she

wants to marry you?

Ben picks up his suitcase, walks to the door and turns.

BEN:

She doesn't. To be perfectly

honest, she doesn't like me.

DISSOLVE TO:

141EXT. ROAD NO 1 TO BERKELEY - DAY

Ben driving his car (left to right)

BEN'S VOICE

(over)

Dear Elaine - I am now visiting

Berkeley, after growing somewhat

weary of family life. I have been

meaning to stop by and pay my

respects but am not entirely certain

just how you feel about seeing me

after the incident involving myself

and your mother. It was certainly

a serious mistake on my part but

not serious enough. I hope --

The last part runs down like a record on an old gramaphone.

CUT TO:

142EXT. ROAD NO. 2 - TO BERKELEY - DAY

Ben driving his car (left to right)

BEN'S VOICE

(over)

Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Robinson take

great pleasure in announcing the

wedding of their daughter...

It runs down.

CUT TO:

143EXT. GAS STATION - DAY

Ben's car is being gassed up. It is a huge gas station

with dozens of pumps and many neon lights. Ben runs to

a series of vending machines. He pushes quarters into

them, receiving cigarettes, a sandwich, an apple, a cup

of coffee. Balancing them all carefully, he runs back

to the car, climbs in, puts his purchases on top of

the dashboard, hands the attendant a bill and drives

off.

CUT TO:

144EXT. ROAD NO. 3 TO BERKELEY - DAY

Ben driving (left to right) and eating.

BEN'S VOICE

(over)

Honey - I'm home.

ELAINE'S VOICE

(over)

Hi - Sweetheart.

BEN'S VOICE

(over)

Where are the kids?

ELAINE'S VOICE

(over)

Oh, they're having a wonderful

time - spending the day at Mother's

- she's teaching them to...

It runs down.

145EXT. ROAD NO. 4 TO BERKELEY - DAY

Ben driving (left to right)

BEN'S VOICE

(over)

Dear Mom and Dad. You may have

wondered why Elaine and I haven't

written in such a long time, but

the postal sytem here in Greenland

isn't the most efficient. Life

among these wonderful natives...

It runs down.

CUT TO:

146EXT. ROAD NO. 5 TO BERKELEY - DAY

Ben driving (left to right)

MAN'S VOICE

(over)

Do you, Benjamin Braddock take

this woman, Mrs. Robinson, for

your Mother-in-law, to love,

cherish and...

It runs down.

CUT TO:

147EXT. TOLL BOOTH ON THE OAKLAND BRIDGE - DAY

Ben barely stops as he hands the change out the window of

the low-slung sports car and up to the toll taker.

CUT TO:

148EXT. OAKLAND BRIDGE - DAY

Ben driving over bridge (left to right)

MRS. ROBINSON'S VOICE

(over)

Benjamin - you and Elaine have

made such a wonderful marriage.

I often laugh when I remember

those nights at the Taft.

BEN'S VOICE

(over)

Yes - how long ago that all

seems.

MRS. ROBINSON'S VOICE

(over; chuckling)

I'll never forget how peeved I

was when I first...

It runs down...

PAN THE CAR past us and HOLD ON it as it disappears in

the distance.

DISSOLVE TO:

149INT. WENDELL HALL RECEPTION AREA - DUSK

CLOSE ON BEN as he comes through the door. MOVE WITH

HIM as he wanders around the the commons room which is filled

with STUDENTS. Girls SINGING, couples necking; a MAN

with a heavy knapsack. Ben walks to a LADY RECEPTIONIST

NO. 1, who sits at a reception desk.

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