The Graduate Page #9

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BEN:

Well how long has this been going

on.

MRS. ROBINSON

(looking at the

ceiling for a moment)

About five years.

BEN:

Oh no. Are you kidding me?

MRS. ROBINSON

No.

BEN:

You have not slept with your

husband for five years?

MRS. ROBINSON

Now and then. He geats drunk a

few times a year.

BEN:

How many times a year.

MRS. ROBINSON

On New Year's Eve. Sometimes on

his birthday.

BEN:

Man, is this interesting.

MRS. ROBINSON

Is it?

BEN:

So you don't love him. You

wouldn't say you -

MRS. ROBINSON

We've talked enough, Benjamin.

BEN:

Wait a minute. So you wouldn't

say you loved him.

MRS. ROBINSON

Not exactly.

BEN:

But you don't hate him.

MRS. ROBINSON

No, Benjamin. I don't hate him.

Unhook my blouse.

BEN:

(unhooking her blouse)

Well how do you feel about him,

then?

MRS. ROBINSON

I don't.

BEN:

Well that's kind of a bad

situation then, isn't it?

MRS. ROBINSON

Is it?

BEN:

I mean it doesn't sound like it

could be much worse. If you

hated him at least you'd hate

him.

She nods and takes off her blouse.

BEN:

Well you loved him once, I

assume. When you first knew

him.

MRS. ROBINSON

No.

BEN:

What?

MRS. ROBINSON

I never did, Benjamin. Now

let's -

BEN:

Well, wait a minute. You married

him.

She nods.

BEN:

Why did you do that?

MRS. ROBINSON

(taking off her

stockings)

See if you can guess.

BEN:

Well I can't.

MRS. ROBINSON

Think real hard, Benjamin.

BEN:

I can't see why you did, unless

...you didn't have to marry him

or anything, did you?

MRS. ROBINSON

Don't tell Elaine.

BEN:

Oh no. You had to marry him

because you got pregnant?

MRS. ROBINSON

Are you shocked?

BEN:

Well I never thought of you and

Mr. Robinson as the kind of

people who...

MRS. ROBINSON

All right. Now let's get to bed.

BEN:

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

So how did it happen?

MRS. ROBINSON

What?

BEN:

I mean do you feel like telling

me what were the circumstances?

MRS. ROBINSON

Not particularly.

BEN:

Was he a law student at the time?

She nods.

BEN:

And you were a student also.

MRS. ROBINSON

Yes.

BEN:

At college.

MRS. ROBINSON

Yes.

BEN:

What was your major?

MRS. ROBINSON

Why are you asking me all this?

BEN:

Because I'm interested, Mrs. Robinson.

Now what was your major subject

at college?

MRS. ROBINSON

Art.

BEN:

Art?

She nods.

BEN:

But I thought you - I guess you

kind of lost interest in it over

the years then.

MRS. ROBINSON

Kind of.

BEN:

Well how did it happen?

MRS. ROBINSON

How do you think.

BEN:

I mean did he take you up to

his room with him? Did you go

to a hotel?

MRS. ROBINSON

Benjamin, what does it possibly

matter?

BEN:

I'm curious.

MRS. ROBINSON

We'd go to his car.

BEN:

Oh no. In the car you did it?

MRS. ROBINSON

I don't think we were the first.

Ben thinks for a moment.

BEN:

What kind of car was it?

MRS. ROBINSON

What?

BEN:

Do you remember the make of the

car?

MRS. ROBINSON

Oh my God.

BEN:

Really. I want to know.

MRS. ROBINSON

It was a Ford, Benjamin.

BEN:

(jumping up)

A Ford! A Ford! Goddamnit, a

Ford! That's great!

MRS. ROBINSON

That's enough.

BEN:

So old Elaine Robinson got started

in a Ford.

There is a pause.

MRS. ROBINSON

Don't talk about Elaine.

BEN:

Don't talk about Elaine?

MRS. ROBINSON

No.

BEN:

Why not?

MRS. ROBINSON

Because I don't want you to.

She walks to the bed.

BEN:

Well why don't you?

She pulls the bedspread down. Ben begins to remove his

jacket.

BEN:

I wish you'd tell me.

MRS. ROBINSON

There's nothing to tell.

BEN:

Well why is she a big taboo

subject all of a sudden?

Mrs. Robinson uncovers one of the pillows.

BEN:

Well - I guess I'll have to ask

her out on a date and find out

what's --

MRS. ROBINSON

Benjamin, don't you ever take

that girl out.

Ben looks at her.

MRS. ROBINSON

Do you understand that?

BEN:

Well look. I have no intention

of taking her out.

MRS. ROBINSON

Good.

BEN:

I was just kidding around.

MRS. ROBINSON

Good.

BEN:

But why shouldn't I?

MRS. ROBINSON

I have my reasons.

BEN:

Then let's hear them.

MRS. ROBINSON

No.

BEN:

Let's hear your reasons, Mrs.

Robinson. Because I think I

know what they are.

She pulls the covers down.

BEN:

I'm not good enough for her to

associate with, am I? I'm not

good enough to even talk about

her, am I?

MRS. ROBINSON

Let's drop it.

BEN:

We're not dropping it. Now

that's the reason, isn't it?

I'm a dirty degenerate, aren't

I? I'm not fit to -

MRS. ROBINSON

Benjamin?

BEN:

I'm good enough for you but I'm

too slimy to associate with

your daughter. That's it, isn't

it? ISN'T IT?

MRS. ROBINSON

Yes.

BEN:

You go to hell. You go straight

to hell, Mrs. Robinson. Do you

think I'm proud of myself? Do

you think I'm proud of this?

MRS. ROBINSON

I wouldn't know.

BEN:

Well, I'm not.

MRS. ROBINSON

You're not.

BEN:

No sir. I am not proud that I

spend my time with a broken-

down alcoholic!

MRS. ROBINSON

I see.

BEN:

And if you think I come here

for any reason besides pure

boredom, then you're all wrong.

She nods.

BEN:

Because - Mrs. Robinson this

is the sickest, most perverted

thing that ever happened to

me. And you do what you want

but I'm getting the hell out.

MRS. ROBINSON

Are you?

BEN:

You're goddamn right I am.

He starts putting on his shirt. She sits on the edge of

the bed and watches him.

MRS. ROBINSON

That's how you feel about me.

He nods.

MRS. ROBINSON

That I'm a sick and disgusting

person.

BEN:

Now don't start this.

MRS. ROBINSON

What?

BEN:

Don't start acting hurt.

MRS. ROBINSON

Don't you expect me to be a

little hurt?

BEN:

Mrs. Robinson, you stand there

and tell me I'm not good enough

for your daughter.

MRS. ROBINSON

Did I say that?

BEN:

Of course you did.

She shakes her head.

MRS. ROBINSON

Benjamin, I want to apologize

to you if that's the impression

you got.

BEN:

Well two minutes ago you told

me I wasn't good enough for

your daughter. Now you say

you're sorry I got that

impression.

MRS. ROBINSON

I didn't mean it. I don't think

you'd be right for each other.

But I would never say you

weren't as good a person as

she is.

BEN:

You wouldn't.

MRS. ROBINSON

Of course I wouldn't.

Mrs. Robinson walks to the closet.

BEN:

What are you doing?

MRS. ROBINSON

Well it's pretty obvious you

don't want me around any more.

BEN:

Well look - I was kind of upset

there. I'm sorry I said those

things.

MRS. ROBINSON

If that's how you feel -

BEN:

But it's not.

MRS. ROBINSON

(smiling at him)

That's all right. I think I

can understand why I'm disgusting

to you.

BEN:

Oh no. Look - I like you. I

wouldn't keep coming here if

I didn't like you.

MRS. ROBINSON

But if it's sickening for you -

BEN:

It's not! I enjoy it! I look

forward to it. It's the one

thing I have to look forward

to.

MRS. ROBINSON

You don't have to say that.

BEN:

Well I wouldn't. I would never

say it if it wasn't true.

MRS. ROBINSON

May I stay then?

BEN:

Yes. Please. I want you to.

MRS. ROBINSON

Thank you.

BEN:

Well don't thank me, because I

want you to.

There is a long pause.

MRS. ROBINSON

But you won't ever take out

Elaine, will you? I want you

to promise me that.

There is another long pause.

BEN:

Look. Why the hell did you

bring this up. It never

occured to me to take her out.

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