The Graduate

 

 

 

Screenplay by       Calder Willingham

          Buck Henry

 

Produced by       Lawrence Turman

 

Directed by       Mike Nichols

 

 

 

Cast List:

 

Dustin Hoffman      Ben Braddock

Anne Bancroft     Mrs. Robinson

Katharine Ross      Elaine Robinson

William Daniels      Mr. Braddock

Elizabeth Wilson    Mrs. Braddock

Murray Hamilton    Mr. Robinson

Brian Avery     Carl Smith

Walter Brooke      Mr. Maguire

 

 

 

EXT. AMPHITHEATRE – DAY – SHOT – HELICOPTER'S POV

 

Moving through clouds. The clouds separate and, far below, we can see a giant outdoor amphitheater. There is no SOUND but the WIND. As we move closer to the amphitheater, we can hear SNATCHES OF WORDS and PHRASES as though from a public address system.

 

 

EXT. 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.

 

 

EXT. AMPHITHEATRE – SHOT OF AUDIENCE – DAY

 

Thousands of expressionless STUDENTS are sitting there.

 

 

EXT. 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 uncompromising ambition would be meaningless. 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.

 

 

SHOT – AMPHITHEATRE AUDIENCE – DAY

 

Staring at him impassively.

 

 

INTERCUT BETWEEN SHOTS

 

... of impassive students, seated, watching; of Ben standing alone on the huge amphitheater stage; of CLOSEUPS of Ben speaking; of loudspeakers; of wind-blown papers on the podium.

 

 

EXT. PODIUM OF AMPHITHEATRE – DAY

 

BEN

(continuing)

The purpose, my fellow graduates – the purpose is –

 

He stops, trying to think of the word.

 

 

CLOSEUP – BEN

 

He begins to sweat.

 

 

SHOT – AMPHITHEATRE AUDIENCE

 

Watching.

 

 

SHOT – PODIUM OF AMPHITHEATRE

 

Ben's hands searching through the pages of his speech. The pages begin to blow away in the wind.

 

 

SHOT – AMPHITHEATRE AUDIENCE – DAY

 

Staring.

 

 

SHOT – PODIUM OF AMPHITHEATRE – DAY

 

BEN

... there is a reason, my friends, and the reason is –

 

 

CLOSEUP – BEN

 

He is in a panic. He looks up from his papers at the audience.

 

 

SHOT – AMPHITHEATRE – DAY

 

The audience is gone.

 

 

SHOT – 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.

 

 

SHOT – 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:

 

 

INT. 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.

 

 

SHOT

 

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.

 

 

REVERSE 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.

 

 

EXT. LOS ANGELES – FROM THE AIR – NIGHT

 

Los Angeles, at night, its lights stretching endlessly in every direction.

 

SOUND – MUZAK 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.

 

 

INT. 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.

 

 

INT. 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.

 

 

INT. 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.

 

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.

 

 

EXT. 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.

 

 

EXT. 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.

 

 

INT. / 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.

 

 

SHOT – 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, looking 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:

 

 

EXT. 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:

 

 

EXT. 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.

 

 

INT. 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