The Graduate

Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to begin our descent into Los Angeles.

The sound you just heard is the landing gear locking into place.

Los Angeles weather is clear. Temperature is 72.

We expect to make our 4-hour and 18-minute flight on schedule.

We have enjoyed having you on board,

and look forward to seeing you again in the near future.

Please hold handrail and stand to the right.

If you wish to pass, please do so on the left.

Please hold handrail and stand to the right.

If you wish to pass, please do so on the left.

Please hold handrail and stand to the right.

If you wish to pass, please do so on the left.

Please hold handrail and stand to the right.

If you wish to pass, please do so on the left.

Please hold handrail and stand to the right.

If you wish to pass, please do so on the left.

Attention, please. Parking in this area is limited to three minutes only.

Please do not leave your car unattended.

Hey, what's the matter?

The guests are all downstairs, Ben, waiting to see you.

Look, Dad, could you explain to them that I have to be alone for a while?

These are all our good friends, Ben.

Most of them have known you since...

Well, practically since you were born. What is it, Ben?

I'm just...

Worried?

Well...

About what?

I guess about my future.

What about it?

I don't know.

I want it to be...

To be what?

Different.

Is anything wrong?

No, no. We're just on our way downstairs.

The Carlsons are here.

They are? Well, come on.

They came all the way from Tarzana.

Come on, let's get cracking.

It's a wonderful thing to have so many devoted friends.

Hey, there's the award-winning scholar.

- We're all very proud of you, Ben. - Thank you, Mrs. Carlson.

Is that the new car out there? That little red wop job?

That's Ben's graduation present.

Well, you won't have much trouble picking up in that, will you?

- Sir? - The girls, the chicks, the teenyboppers.

Oh, I think Ben's gotten beyond the teenybopper stage, haven't you, Ben?

Yes, ma'am.

Excuse me. I think I'd just like to check something on the car for a minute.

His father bought him an Alfa Romeo. You know what that is?

Hey, here's the track star. How are you, track star?

Just fine, Mr. Loomis.

I wanna get a drink, then I wanna hear all about that thing you won,

that Hopperman Award.

- Halpingham. - Halpingham. Right.

You wait right here.

Ben.

We're all so proud of you.

Oh, proud, proud, proud, proud, proud, proud.

What are you going to do now?

I was going to go upstairs for a minute.

- I meant with your future. - Your life.

Well, that's a little hard to say.

- Ben. - Excuse me.

Mr. McGuire.

Ben.

Mr. McGuire.

Come with me for a minute. I wanna talk to you.

- Excuse us, Joanne. - Of course.

Thank you.

- He is such a lamb. - Congratulations, Ben.

- I look at him, and I can't believe it.

I simply can't believe it.

I just wanna say one word to you.

Just one word.

Yes, sir.

- Are you listening? - Yes, I am.

Plastics.

Exactly how do you mean?

There's a great future in plastics.

Think about it.

- Will you think about it? - Yes, I will.

Enough said. That's a deal.

Here he is now. Here's Ben.

Excuse me just a minute.

Listen, everybody. I want you all to be quiet.

I've got Ben's college yearbook here,

and I just want to read you some of the wonderful things about Ben.

Be quiet, please!

"Captain of the cross-country team, head of the debating club,

"associate editor of the college newspaper in his junior year,

"managing editor in his senior..."

Oh, I guess this isn't the bathroom, is it?

It's down the hall.

How are you, Benjamin?

Fine, thank you, Mrs. Robinson.

The bathroom's down at the end of the hall.

Such a pleasant room.

Look. Mrs. Robinson,

I don't mean to be rude, but I'm awfully...

Is there an ashtray in here?

No.

Oh, yes, I forgot... The track star doesn't smoke.

Is it a girl?

Is what a girl?

Whatever it is that's upsetting you.

Oh, no, I'm just sort of disturbed about things.

- In general? - That's right.

- Well, congratulations. - Thank you.

Oh, Benjamin.

- I want to ask you something. - What?

- Will you take me home? - What?

My husband took the car. Will you drive me home?

Here, you take it.

Do you know how to work a foreign shift?

- You don't? - No.

Let's go.

- Thank you. - Right.

- Will you come in, please? - What?

I'd like you to come in till I get the lights on.

What for?

'Cause I don't feel safe till I get the lights on.

Would you mind walking ahead of me to the sun porch?

I feel funny about coming into a dark house.

- But it's light in there. - Please.

What do you drink? Bourbon?

Look, Mrs. Robinson, I drove you home.

I was glad to do it, but I have some things on my mind.

Can you understand that?

- Yes. - All right.

What do you drink?

Benjamin, I'm sorry to be this way,

but I don't want to be left alone in this house.

Why not?

Please wait till my husband gets home.

- When is he coming back? - I don't know.

- Drink? - No.

Are you always this much afraid of being alone?

Yes.

Well, why can't you just lock the doors and go to bed?

I'm very neurotic.

May I ask you a question?

What do you think of me?

What do you mean?

You've known me nearly all your life.

You must have formed some opinion of me.

Well, I always thought that you were a very nice person.

Did you know I was an alcoholic?

What?

Did you know that?

Look, I think I should be going.

Sit down, Benjamin.

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 now...

- No. - What?

My husband will be back quite late.

He should be gone for several hours.

- Oh, my God. - Pardon?

Oh, no, Mrs. Robinson. Oh, no.

What's wrong?

Mrs. Robinson, you didn't... I mean, you didn't expect...

What?

I mean, you didn't really think I'd do something like that.

- Like what? - What do you think?

- Well, I don't know. - For God's sake, Mrs. Robinson.

Here we are, you got me into your house,

you give me a drink, you put on music.

Now you start opening up your personal life to me

and tell me your husband won't be home for hours.

So?

Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me.

Aren't you?

Well, no, I hadn't thought of it.

I feel very flattered.

Mrs. Robinson, will you forgive me for what I just said?

- It's all right. - It's not all right.

- It's the worst thing I ever said to anyone. - Sit down.

Please forgive me because I like you.

I don't think of you that way, but I'm mixed-up.

It's all right. Finish your drink.

Mrs. Robinson, it makes me sick that I said that to you.

Well, forget it right now. Finish your drink.

What is wrong with me?

Have you ever seen Elaine's portrait?

Her portrait?

- Yes. - No.

We had it done last Christmas. Would you like to see it?

Very much.

It's here in Elaine's room.

Elaine certainly is an attractive girl, isn't she?

I don't remember her as having brown eyes.

- Benjamin. - Yes.

- Will you come over here a minute? - Over there?

- Mmm-hmm. - Sure.

Will you unzip my dress? I think I'll go to bed.

Oh, well, good night.

- Won't you unzip my dress? - I'd rather not, Mrs. Robinson.

If you still think I'm trying to seduce you...