The Graduate Page #4

---

BEN:

Yes, sir.

Mr. Robinson reaches for Ben's glass.

MR. ROBINSON

Here. It looks like you need

a refill.

BEN:

Oh no.

MR. ROBINSON

What?

BEN:

I've got to go.

MR. ROBINSON

Is anything wrong? You look

a little shaken up.

BEN:

No. No - I'm just - I'm just

a little worried about my

future. I'm a little upset

about my future.

Mr. Robinson takes the glass from him.

MR. ROBINSON

Come on. Let's have a nightcap

together.

Mr. Robinson turns his back to Ben to mix the drinks.

Ben takes several deep breaths, straightens his tie

and checks to see if his fly is okay. Mr. Robinson

turns and brings him the drink.

BEN:

Thank you very much, sir.

MR. ROBINSON

Ben - how old are you now?

BEN:

Twenty. I'll be twenty-one

next week.

MR. ROBINSON

(taking out a

cigarette)

That's a hell of a good age

to be.

BEN:

Thank you.

MR. ROBINSON

I wish I was that age again.

Because, Ben -

BEN:

Sir?

MR. ROBINSON

You'll never be young again.

BEN:

I know.

MR. ROBINSON

Ben, can I say something to

you?

BEN:

What?

MR. ROBINSON

How long have we known each

other now?

Ben shakes his head.

MR. ROBINSON

How long have you and I known

each other? How long have

your Dad and I been partners?

BEN:

Quite a while.

MR. ROBINSON

I've watched you grow up, Ben.

BEN:

Yes, sir.

MR. ROBINSON

In many ways I feel as though

you were my own son.

BEN:

Thank you.

MR. ROBINSON

So I hope you won't mind my

giving you a friendly piece

of advice.

BEN:

I'd like to hear it.

MR. ROBINSON

Ben - I think - I think you

ought to be taking it a little

easier right now than you seem

to.

Ben nods.

MR. ROBINSON

Sow a few wild oats. Take things

as they come. Have a good time

with the girls and so forth.

Mrs. Robinson enters the room. She is now wearing the

dress she wore earlier. Ben starts to get up.

MRS. ROBINSON

Don't get up.

Ben sits.

MR. ROBINSON

I was just telling Ben here he

ought to sow a few wild oats.

Have a good time while he can.

You think that's sound advice?

Mrs. Robinson nods.

MRS. ROBINSON

Yes, I do.

BEN:

I've got to go.

He stands. Mr. Robinson stands up with him.

MR. ROBINSON

You have yourself a few flings

this summer. I bet you're

quite a ladies' man.

BEN:

Oh no.

MR. ROBINSON

What? You look like the kind

of guy that has to fight them

off.

(to Mrs. Robinson)

Doesn't he look to you like

the kind of guy who has to

fight them off?

MRS. ROBINSON

Yes, he does.

They start out of the sunroom.

40INT. ROBINSON HALL - NIGHT

MR. ROBINSON

Oh say - Elaine gets down from

Berkeley on Saturday.

BEN:

Oh yes.

MR. ROBINSON

Ben - I want you to give her a

call.

BEN:

I will.

MR. ROBINSON

Great.

Mr. Robinson opens the front door and Ben goes out.

41EXT. ROBINSON HOUSE - NIGHT

SHOOTING OVER THE CAR toward the house. Ben comes toward

the car. Mrs. Robinson appears in the doorway; the light

behind her makes it difficult to see her face.

MRS. ROBINSON

Benjamin?

BEN:

Yes.

MRS. ROBINSON

Thank you for taking me home.

Ben nods.

MRS. ROBINSON

I'll see you soon, I hope.

Ben continues to walk toward us.

MR. BRADDOCK'S VOICE

Ladies and gentlemen - your

attention, please - for this after-

noon's feature attraction.

CUT TO:

42EXT. BRADDOCK BACKYARD AND POOL AREA - DAY

The sun shines brightly. Standing and sitting around

the pool are Mr. and Mrs. Braddock, their friends MR.

and MRS. ARNOLD, and the Arnold children, PETER and

LOUISE, who are eight or nine. Watching from across the

fence on one side of the house: the young girl from next

door and her boy friend. Across the fence on the other

side of the house: a quartet of adults, formally dressed

as though for a cocktail party, holding drinks and watch-

ing. One of them holds a baby. The Braddocks, the

Arnolds and their children are dressed in California

Contemporary Sport Style: the adults in styles infinitely

too young for them, the children in styles infinitely too

old for them.

Mr. Braddock stands alone at the end of the pool near the

house. The others are grouped, more or less, at the other

end. Mr. Braddock is hamming it up.

MR. BRADDOCK

Hey, over there -- I mean you!

Your attention please!

Mr. Braddock has moved over by one of the windows of the

house, the window into the kitchen. He speaks quickly -

in a fake sotto voce - towards the window.

MR. BRADDOCK

Are you ready in there, feature

attraction?

BEN'S VOICE

Could I speak to you for a second,

Dad?

But Mr. Braddock has already moved away from the window

and is readdressing his audience.

MR. BRADDOCK

- what was I saying?

MRS. ARNOLD

Feature attraction.

MR. BRADDOCK

Right. Hey - I'm glad to see

you're paying attention. A

feature attraction that will be

one of the most astounding

events ever to take place in

this particular backyard.

They all laugh and some applaud.

MR. BRADDOCK

Now I'm going to ask for a big

round of applause to bring this

boy out here - wait a minute -

let me amend that - to bring

this young man out here - because

today he is twenty-one-years-

old -

MR. ARNOLD

(his hands like

a megaphone)

Let's get on with the show!

MR. BRADDOCK

Just hang on a minute because

I have a few words to say -

MR. ARNOLD

You always do.

They laugh; Mrs. Arnold makes a face at Mr. Arnold as

he grinningly acknowledges the reponse to his snappy

comeback.

BEN'S VOICE

Dad - could we just talk about

this for a second?

MR. BRADDOCK

Twenty-one-years-old, ladies

and gentlemen; four of those

years spent accomplishing some

rather extraordinary things at

one of our nation's leading

seats of learning -

MR. ARNOLD

Bring him out!

PETER AND LOUISE

On with the show! On with the

show!

MR. BRADDOCK

(to the window)

I can't hold them much longer,

Ben. You better get out here.

BEN'S VOICE

I'd like to discuss this.

MR. BRADDOCK

(to his audience)

This boy - I'm sorry - this

young man - is soon to continue

his education as a Frank Halping-

ham Award Scholar - but before

he does -

Mr. Braddock darts back to the window.

MR. BRADDOCK

- before he does -

(to the window)

You're disappointing them, Ben.

You're disappointing them.

BEN'S VOICE

Dad - can you listen -

MR. BRADDOCK

(meaning it)

I'll give you ten seconds.

(back to the

people)

He is going to give us a

practical demonstration of

what I feel safe in saying is

a pretty exciting birthday

present - and it better work

or I'm out over two hundred

bucks - so let's hear it for -

Mr. Braddock moves to the screen door and pushes it open.

It slams against the wall inside.

MR. BRADDOCK

- Benjamin Braddock!

44INT. BRADDOCK BREAKFAST KITCHEN - SHOT DOWN THE HALL - DAY

At the back of the hall, inside the house, stands Ben,

dressed in a full length skin diver's wet suit, flippers

on his feet, the oxygen tank strapped to his back, the

mask pushed up his forehead, the air hose dangling.

He holds a spear gun in his hand.

The people applaud.

45EXT BRADDOCK BACKYARD AND POOL AREA - DAY

SHOT - FROM BEN'S POV

The people in the backyard. His father stands just

outside the screen door.

MR. BRADDOCK

Folks - this remarkable young

man is going to perform for you

some spectacular and amazing

feats of daring in water that is

over six feet deep -

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes