The Graduate Page #2

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They reach the hall at the bottom of the stairs.

BEN:

Excuse me - I think I'd just

like to check something on

the car for a minute -

Ben moves to the front door and opens it. MR. LOOMIS

steps into the house and grabs Ben's hand.

MR. LOOMIS

Here's the track star himself.

How are you, track star?

BEN:

Just fine, Mr. Loomis.

Mr. Loomis closes the door and pushes Ben back down the

hall.

MR. LOOMIS

I want to get a drink and then

I want to hear all about that

thing you won. That Hopperman

award.

BEN:

Helpingham.

MR. LOOMIS

Helpingham! Right! Now you

wait right here.

Mr. Loomis turns and goes into the dining room. Ben

moves back to the stairway as THREE LADIES come out of

the living room. One lady takes Ben's right hand, another

lady his left, the third fingers the front of his jacket.

LADY 1

Ben - we're all so proud of

you.

LADY 2

Proud, proud, proud, proud,

proud.

LADY 3

What are you going to do now?

BEN:

I was going to go upstairs for a

minute -

LADY 3

No - I meant with your future.

LADY 2

With your life.

BEN:

Well - that's a little hard to say -

MR. MCQUIRE appears behind Ben.

MR. MCQUIRE

Ben!

Ben

(to the ladies)

Excuse me.

(he turns around)

Mr. McQuire

MR. MCQUIRE

(overwhelmed with pride)

Ben.

BEN:

Mr. McQuire.

Mr. McQuire takes Ben's arm and steers him down the hall

toward the back of the house and out through the back door.

30EXT. BRADDOCK BACKYARD AND POOL AREA - NIGHT

The pool is eerily lit. There are FOUR PEOPLE standing and

TALKING, drinks in their hands, at the back of the yard.

MR. MCQUIRE

Ben - I just want to say one word to

you - just one word -

BEN:

Yes, sir.

MR. MCQUIRE

Are you listening?

BEN:

Yes I am.

MR. MCQUIRE

(gravely)

Plastics.

They look at each other for a moment.

BEN:

Exactly how do you mean?

MR. MCQUIRE

There is a great future in plastics.

Think about it. Will you think

about it?

BEN:

Yes, I will.

MR. MCQUIRE

Okay. Enough said. That's a deal.

Mr. McQuire turns and walks back into the house. The

people at the other end of the yard look toward Ben.

WOMAN #1

Here he is now. Here's Ben.

BEN:

Excuse me just a minute -

Ben goes into the house through the back door.

31EXT. BRADDOCK BACKYARD AND POOL AREA - NIGHT

We can see through the windows of the house, Ben making his

way through people trying to stop him and speak to him as he

goes through rooms, up the stairs and to his room.

SOUND of a door SLAMMING.

32INT. - EXT. BEN'S ROOM - NIGHT

Ben stands with his back against the door. The SOUNDS of the

PARTY downstairs and, as Ben walks across the room to a

window, the SOUND of the WIND.

32ASHOT - LONG SHOT (Location)

Over Ben to pool area and people below. SOUND of the door

OPENING. Ben turns. MRS. ROBINSON enters the room.

MRS. ROBINSON

Oh. I guess this isn't the

bathroom, is it?

BEN:

It's down the hall.

They stand for a moment, loocking at each other.

MRS. ROBINSON

How are you, Benjamin?

BEN:

Fine, thank you. The bathroom is

down at the end of the hall.

Mrs. Robinson moves into the room and sits on the edge

of the bed.

BEN:

Look, Mrs. Robinson, I don't

mean to be rude but -

Mrs. Robinson takes a cigarette from her purse and

lights it.

MRS. ROBINSON

Is there an ashtray in here?

BEN:

No.

MRS. ROBINSON

Oh - I forgot. The track star

doesn't smoke.

She blows out the match and puts it down carefully on

the bedspread. Ben picks up a wastebasket, walks over

to the bed, picks up the match and puts it in the

wastebasket.

MRS. ROBINSON

Is it a girl?

BEN:

Is what a girl?

MRS. ROBINSON

Whatever it is you're upset

about.

BEN:

Oh - no. I'm just sort of

disturbed about things.

MRS. ROBINSON

In general.

BEN:

That's right.

There is a long pause.

MRS. ROBINSON

Benjamin, I want to ask you

something.

BEN:

What?

MRS. ROBINSON

Will you take me home?

BEN:

What?

MRS. ROBINSON

My husband took the car. Will

you drive me home?

Ben reaches into his pocket and hands Mrs. Robinson

a set of car keys.

BEN:

Here - you take it.

Mrs. Robinson looks at him.

BEN:

Do you know how to work a

foreign shift?

Mrs. Robinson shakes her head.

BEN:

You don't?

MRS. ROBINSON

No.

(there is a pause)

BEN:

Let's go.

She throws the keys to him. He catches them.

CUT TO:

33EXT. BRADDOCK HOUSE - NIGHT

SHOOTING THROUGH THE OPEN FRONT DOOR. Mr. Braddock is

talking to the Terhunes at the door. Ben and Mrs.

Robinson come down the hall.

BEN:

Dad - Mrs. Robinson needs a ride

home. I'll be right back.

Mr. Braddock pats Ben on the shoulder. Mrs. Robinson

is walking ahead through the front door.

MRS. ROBINSON

(as she passes the

CAMERA)

Wonderful party.

CUT TO:

34OMITTED

35EXT. ROBINSON HOUSE - NIGHT

The car comes to a stop in the Robinson driveway. They sit

for a moment.

MRS. ROBINSON

Thank you.

BEN:

Right.

She doesn't move. Ben gets out and goes around to her side

and opens the door.

MRS. ROBINSON

Will you come in, please?

BEN:

What?

MRS. ROBINSON

I want you to come in till I get

the lights on.

BEN:

What for?

MRS. ROBINSON

Because I don't feel safe until

I get the lights on.

They move to the door. She takes out her key and opens

the door.

36INT. ROBINSON HALL AND SUNROOM - NIGHT

MRS. ROBINSON

Would you mind walking ahead of

me to the sun porch. I feel

funny about coming into a dark

house.

BEN:

But it's light in there now.

MRS. ROBINSON

Please.

Ben turns and walks down the hall. They enter sunroom.

MRS. ROBINSON

What do you drink? Bourbon?

BEN:

Look - I drove you home. I was

glad to do it. But I have some

things on my mind. Can you

understand that?

She nods.

BEN:

All right then.

MRS. ROBINSON

What do you drink?

He looks at her.

MRS. ROBINSON

Benjamin - I'm sorry to be this

way, but I don't want to be

alone in this house.

BEN:

Why not?

MRS. ROBINSON

Please wait till my husband

gets home.

BEN:

When is he coming back?

MRS. ROBINSON

I don't know.

She pours herself a drink.

MRS. ROBINSON

Drink?

BEN:

No.

She hands him a drink. There is a pause.

BEN:

Are you always this much afraid

of being alone?

MRS. ROBINSON

Yes.

BEN:

Well, why can't you just lock

the doors and go to bed?

MRS. ROBINSON

I'm very nuerotic.

She turns on the phonograph. SOUND of PHONOGRAPH.

MRS. ROBINSON

May I ask you a question?

Ben looks at her.

MRS. ROBINSON

What do you think of me?

BEN:

What do you mean?

MRS. ROBINSON

You've known me nearly all of

your life. You must have

formed some opinion.

BEN:

Well - I've always thought

that you were a very - nice -

person.

MRS. ROBINSON

Did you know I was an alcoholic?

BEN:

What?

MRS. ROBINSON

Did you know that?

BEN:

Look - I think I should be

going -

MRS. ROBINSON

Sit down, Benjamin.

BEN:

Mrs. Robinson - if you don't

mind my saying so - this

conversation is getting a

little strange. Now I'm sure

that Mr. Robinson will be here

any minute and -

MRS. ROBINSON

No.

BEN:

What?

MRS. ROBINSON

My husband will be back quite

late.

They look at each other. Ben is half standing.

MRS. ROBINSON

He should be gone for several

hours.

She takes a step toward him. He puts his hand up and

retreats around the other side of the chair.

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