1967年，"新好萊塢電影"的出現(xiàn)，更多貼近現(xiàn)實生活和年輕人思想感情的電影出 現(xiàn)，使好萊塢電影從純粹的"逃避現(xiàn)實"消遣品逐漸變成"反映現(xiàn)實"的藝術品。 在這個變革里，達斯廷·霍夫曼(Dustin Hoffman)的成名作《畢業(yè)生》是一部舉足輕重的代表作。這部大膽揭露六十年代年輕人迷失方向，戳破美式中產(chǎn)階級虛偽面具的電影，成為"新好萊塢電影 "的先鋒之作。
本片描述達斯汀·霍夫曼飾演一個剛步出大學校門的社會新鮮人本恩，面對眾人口中所謂 的美好前程和他的父母籌備慶祝他畢業(yè)的家庭晚會，本恩卻對未來生活感到茫然。 來客中的魯賓遜太太對這個小伙子很感興趣，并讓本恩開車送她回家。風流的夫人不斷挑逗本恩，但被拒絕。可是日子如此無聊，不久后他開始了同魯賓遜太太幽 會，同時他也愛上了她的女兒伊萊恩。 魯賓遜太太知道真相后堅決反對，并想盡辦法拆散兩人的交往。本恩終于找到機會向伊萊恩表白了愛意，并坦承了自己的墜落，只是沒說出那個夫人的名字。 伊萊恩原諒了他，但魯賓遜太太的震怒使伊萊恩猜到了一切。她傷心地與一個叫卡爾的人傖促結婚。本恩得知這一消息，不顧一切向教堂沖去，他要盡最后力量挽回 愛人的心。
我總是認為我要嫁的是一個能夠帶給我一首一文不名的詩歌配上玫瑰花的人，而非可以給你一棟房子的人。我們可以認為可 以能夠帶給你一座房子的人必定可以賣給你很多很多的花。然而我總是覺得給你一座房子的人未必有那份心境去給你一首詩，給你一首詩和一支花的人卻一定愿意給 你一個家，請不要用給不給的起來質(zhì)疑我，我們要看到的是潛在的可能性。青春的魅力就在于存在著這樣太多美好的可能性。而那個無悔的青春正在與把這些可能性 變?yōu)楝F(xiàn)實。
當他和比他大20歲的女人夜夜同床共寢時，那瘋狂的行為讓他找到了青春的所在了么。他在床上試圖問她一些問題的時 候，他的興奮和她的不耐煩說明了他和她之間的隔閡無法挽回。他們在一張床上所要尋求的和要得到的根本是截然不同的事情。失卻了探尋目標的做愛究竟在是令人 無法滿意的。
無論在最當初他曾怎樣給與她承諾，她卻仍舊阻止不了愛情的力量。他愛上了曾經(jīng)和她做愛的母親的女兒。青春總是這樣帶 著荒唐可笑的色彩的，我們往往犯了不可原諒的錯誤之后才知道自己要什么。 當結局里兩個人坐在車子里的時候，我們總算可以清楚，在青春的日子絕沒有哪種錯誤是無可挽回的。
回想當初僅僅一個晚上的相識，主人公帶著那句“我要和伊琳結婚了?！钡南敕ê笳归_了他一系列的行動，盡管她是曾和他做愛的女人的女兒。
電視劇里的往往只有一個原因，就是我們只有當心愛的人遠去了才知道自己不能失去的心痛，才敢于勇敢地去面對愛。影片 里我們看到那些支離破碎的線索，我們是怎樣揪心的跟隨著主人公的步伐，去追尋，這一執(zhí)著是他明了以后從未停歇和放緩的。這不是成人世界的猶豫和權衡，不是 不敢愛，而是拼命愛，不顧一切的愛。（這讓我想起《big fish》里面男主人追求女主人公的行為。）這種固執(zhí)和執(zhí)著是年少癡狂的青春最美好的品質(zhì)。愿意去相信，他那近乎絕望的步伐都是真實的。
我只是有點擔心。
擔心什么？
我的未來。
那又是什么？
我不知道...我只想...與眾不同。
據(jù)說這部電影反映了美國六十年代年輕一代的迷惘。可是在我看來，迷惘與年輕永遠共存，關鍵在于能否找到心的方向，以及是否朝著哪個方向去堅持。
達斯 汀·霍夫曼對未知世界的彷徨和向往，以及那個洋溢著激情和沖動的結尾，都一絲不差地契合了畢業(yè)生的心情。當然，還有那首廣為傳唱的插曲，它會適時地蕩起你 心中淡淡的離愁. 有時也會有一種對未來的迷茫就像影片中展示的那樣,彷徨,無所事事.就是那樣發(fā)呆,死死的發(fā)呆......
從影片的開始本的臉上就是一臉麻木的表情,正是所有畢業(yè)生所共有的.而影片的音樂更是增添了一種憂郁的色彩,悠悠的,清清的,讓人不知不覺的進入了自己內(nèi) 心的世界去思考些什么.什么呢?本是一個優(yōu)秀的畢業(yè)生,而且他的家人早就為他準備好了一切就等著他的歸來,而他對這些似乎還上不在意.他對自己的人生充滿 了疑問.或許他也曾憧憬過很多美好的未來,但在現(xiàn)實生活中他要面對的東西遠遠超過了學校的書本,他要面對各種誘惑,還要承受高潮過后的寂寞,這就是人生. 或許他還沒有作好準備,或許他開始暴露他人性中的缺點.
當羅賓遜太太邀請他到她家的時候,或者是在她開始誘惑他的時候,他的良知開始淪陷,我們不能說他的內(nèi)心沒有掙扎,但最后他還是選擇的墮落.而羅賓遜太太就 是這個社會的象征,她牢牢掌控著本.她曾經(jīng)也是一個像本一樣憧憬美好的畢業(yè)生,但經(jīng)過世事的經(jīng)歷,她一點一點的被這個社會同化.現(xiàn)在成了一個追求肉欲享 樂,精神空虛的半老徐娘.在自身受到威脅時是那么的狡詐惡毒.或許到最后我們都會像她那樣吧.而這時的本也暴露了他的弱點,他懦弱,這一點從開始在羅賓遜 太太家里面對她的調(diào)情是本的不知所措就可以看出.面對這個社會本是一張空白的紙,他要經(jīng)歷的東西還有很多,他要學的東西還有很多.現(xiàn)在的本精神也如羅賓遜 太太一樣空虛,但他多了懦弱.
但在與羅賓遜太太偷情的這段時間里他也感覺到了無聊一天他的父親嚴厲的問到"你對自己的未來到底有什么打算" 時, 他被刺眼的陽光弄得睜不開眼,現(xiàn)實的問題對他來說是那么棘手,而他只能在不停的游泳和偷情中去逃避."你問住我了"本的回答無力而迷茫,但這也喚起了他對 自身的思考.
而就在這時他的天使一連出現(xiàn)了.一連可以說是片中唯一的完美形象了但可惜也是三個人中最單純的一個.本從她身上發(fā)現(xiàn)了自己已經(jīng)和逐漸失去的東西,終于鼓起 勇氣向一連告白,但事情當然不會那么簡單,羅賓遜太太瘋了似的阻撓他們.但兩顆相愛的心走到了一起,終于在一個大雨之日本向一連坦白了他的行為,但當一連 知道那個女人就是自己的母親時.她無法忍受毅然的離開了本.
一連的離開讓本開始思考,他發(fā)現(xiàn)自己不能沒有一連,她帶給他太多的東西,讓他找到了自己的方向,找到了自己生活下去的理由.他決定追回一連.
在破壞婚禮的這場戲里,鏡頭對混亂的表現(xiàn)很到位,在看到窗外哀號的本時,鏡頭分別給羅賓遜太太和羅賓遜先生一個特寫,夾雜在混亂的全景中,級好的表現(xiàn)了他們那種虛偽面孔下的窮兇級惡的扭曲,而本終于得到了一連.
最后兩個人奔跑著踏上象征自由的公車奔向解放.他們的臉上露出了燦爛的笑容,眼中有希望有欣喜有決心但也有些許的迷茫.新的生活就要開始不知道兩個人即將面對的會是什么?
那天，走在街上，聽到一家音像店放《斯卡布羅集市》，就自然而然想起了《畢業(yè)生》。
有的電影，能讓人感懷至深，唏噓良久，那能稱為一部成功的電影；而有的電影，當時你也許知識稍微的觸動，但它卻能穿過時光的隧道，在遙遠的將來的日子里，牽起你絲縷的回憶，抓住你的心，那叫做一部經(jīng)典的電影?！懂厴I(yè)生》無疑是一部經(jīng)典！
The Graduate
Speaker: 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’F. We expect to make our four hour and eighteen minute flight on schedule. We’ve enjoyed having you on board and look forward to seeing you again in the near future.
Sound of Silence
Vocals: Simon & Garfunkel
Hello darkness, my old friend.
I’ve come to talk with you again.
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
’neath the hallo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp,
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light,
That split the night,
And touched the sound of silence.
And in the naked night I saw, ten thousand people maybe more.
People talkin’ without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share.
No one dare
Disturb the sound of silence.
“Fools,” said I, “you do not know,
silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you.”
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed in the well of silence.
And the people bow and prayed
To the neon God they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming.
And the signs said “The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and the tenement halls”.
And whispered in the sound of silence.
(The Bradders. Upstairs in Benjamin’s bedroom.)
Benjamin’s Father (F for short): Hey, what’s the matter? The guests are all downstairs, Ben, waiting to see you.
Benjamin (B for short):Dad, could you explain it to them that I have to be alone for a while?
F: These are all our good friends, Ben. Most of them have known you since, well practically, since you were born. What is it, Ben?
B: I’m just…
F: Worried?
B: Well…
F: About what?
B: I guess about my future.
F: What about it?
B: I don’t know. I want it to be…
F: To be what?
B: Different.
(Benjamin reluctantly follows his father downstairs.)
Ben’s mother: 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.
(Later, Ben gets back in his room, lying in the darkness. All of a sudden, Mrs. Robinson comes in.)
Mrs. Robinson (R for short): Oh Benjamin, I wanna ask you something.
B: What?
R: Could you take me home?
B: What?
R: My husband took the car. Will you drive me home?
B: Here…uh, you take it. (Ben throws the car key to Mrs. Robinson.) Do you know how to work a foreign shift? You don’t?
R: No.
B: Let’s go.
(Ben drives Mrs. Robinson home. Mrs. Robinson insists on asking Ben to go in for a drink.)
R: What do you drink, Bourbon?
B: 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?
R: Yes.
B: All right.
R: What do you drink? Benjamin, I’m sorry to be this way, but I don’t want to be left alone in this house.
B: Why not?
R: Please wait ‘till my husband gets home.
B: When is he coming back?
R: I don’t know. Drink?
B: No. Are you always this much afraid of being alone?
R: Yes.
B: Well, why can’t you just lock the doors and go to bed?
R: I’m very neurotic.
(Mrs. Robinson turns on the radio.)
R: May I ask you a question? What do you think of me?
B: What do you mean?
R: You’ve known me nearly all your life. You must have formed some opinion of me.
B: Well I always thought that you were a very nice person.
R: Did you know I was an alcoholic?
B: What?
R: Did you know that?
B: Look, I think I should be going.
R: Sit down, Benjamin.
B: 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.
R: No.
R: What?
R: My husband will be back quite late. He should be gone for several hours.
B: Oh, my God!
R: Pardon?
B: Oh, no, Mrs. Robinson, oh, no.
R: What’s wrong?
B: Mrs. Robinson, you didn’t …I mean you didn’t expect……
R: What?
B: I mean you didn’t really think I’d do something like that?
R: Like what?
B: What do you think?
R: Well, I don’t know.
B: 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.
R: So?
B: Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me.
(Mrs. Robinson asks Ben upstairs to have a look of Elaine, her daughter’s picture. And here, to Ben’s astonishment, she tells Ben that he may call her wherever he finds it convenient. At this critical moment, Mr. Robinson drives back. Ben hurries downstairs.)
Mr. Robinson: Is that Ben’s car in front?
B: Yes, sir! I drove…er…I drove Mrs. Robinson home. She wanted me to drive her home so I drove her home.
Mr. Robinson: Swell! I appreciate it.
B: She’s upstairs. She wanted me to wait down here ‘till you got home.
Mr. Robinson: Standing guard over the old castle, are you?
B: Yes, sir.
Mr. Robinson: Congratulations.
B: Thank you.
Mr. Robinson: Looks like you need a refill.
B: Oh no, I’ve got to go.
Mr. Robinson: Anything wrong? You look a little shaken up.
B: Oh no no, I’m just, I’m just a little worried about my future. I’m a little upset about my future.
Mr. Robinson: Ah, come on. Let’s have a nightcap together. Scotch?
B: Bourbon.
Mr. Robinson: Ben, how old are you now?
B: Twenty. I’ll be twenty one next week.
Mr. Robinson: That’s a hell of a good age to be.
B: Thank you. Thank you very much, sir.
Mr. Robinson: I…er…I wish I was that age again. Because Ben…
B: Sir?
Mr. Robinson: You’ll never be young again.
B: I know.
Mr. Robinson: Ben, can I say something to you?
B: What?
Mr. Robinson: How long have we known each other now? How long have you and I known each other? How long have your dad and I been partners?
B: Quite a while.
Mr. Robinson: I watched you grow up, Ben.
B: Yes, sir.
Mr. Robinson: In many ways I feel as though you were my own son.
B: Thank you.
Mr. Robinson: So I hope you won’t mind my giving you a friendly piece of advice.
B: I’d like to hear it.
Mr. Robinson: Ben, I think you ought to be taking it a little easier right now than you seem to be. Sow a few wild oats, take things as they come. Have a good time with girls and so forth.
(Mrs. Robinson comes downstairs.)
R: Don’t get up.
Mr. Robinson: I…er…I was just telling …er…
Mr. Robinson: Ben.
B: Ben here that he ought to sow a few wild oats. Have a good time while he can. You think that’s sound advice?
R: Yes, I do.
B: I got to go.
Mr. Robinson: You have yourself a few flames this summer. I bet you are quite a ladies man, huh?
B: Oh no!
Mr. Robinson: What? You look to me like the kind of guy who has to fight them off. Doesn’t he look to you like the kind of guy who has to fight them off?
R: Yes, he does.
Mr. Robinson: Elaine gets down from Berkeley on Saturday.
B: Oh, yes?
Mr. Robinson: You want to give her a call?
B: I will.
R: Thank you for taking me home. I’ll see you soon I hope.
(Several days later, Benjamin gives Mrs. Robinson a call from a hotel.)
R: Hello.
B: I don’t quite know how to put this.
R: Benjamin.
B: Look. I was thinking about that time after the party.
R: Where are you?
B: And I was wonderful if I could buy you a drink or something.
R: Where are you?
B: The Taft Hotel.
R: Did you get a room?
B: No. No, I know it’s pretty late and if you’d rather…
R: Give me an hour.
B: What?
R: I’ll be there in an hour.
(An hour later, Mrs. Robinson arrives at the hotel.)
R: Hello, Benjamin.
B: Oh, hello.
R: May I sit down?
B: Of course.
R: Thank you. How are you?
B: Very well thank you.
R: May I have a drink?
B: A drink? Of course. You didn’t see me.
R: Waiter, I will have a martini.
Waiter: Yes, ma’am.
R: You don’t have to be so nervous, you know.
B: Nervous? Well, I am a little nervous. I mean…it’s pretty hard to be swallowing for me.
R: Did you get us a room?
B: What?
R: Have you gotten us a room yet?
B: I haven’t, no.
R: Do you want to?
B: Well, I don’t…I mean I could. Or we could just talk.
R: You want me to get it?
B: You? Oh no, I’ll get it.
(The reception.)
B: Excuse me.
Receptionist: Yes, sir?
B: A room. I’d like a room please.
Receptionist: Single room or a double room?
B: A single just for myself please.
Receptionist: Sign the register please. (Ben hesitates for a moment and signs a fake name.) Anything wrong sir?
B: What? No, nothing.
Receptionist: Do you have any luggage, Mr. Gladstone?
B: Luggage? Yes. Yes, I do.
Receptionist: Where is it?
B: What?
Receptionist: Where is your luggage?
B: Oh, it’s in the car. It’s out there in the car.
Receptionist: Very good, sir. I’ll have a porter bring it in.
B: Oh, no. I mean i…I’d rather not go through all of the trouble of bringing it all in. I just have a toothbrush I can get it myself. That’s all right.
Receptionist: Of course. I’ll have a porter show you the room.
B: Oh, well…actually I just as soon find it myself. Just have the toothbrush to carry up and I can handle it myself.
Receptionist: Whatever you say, sir.
B: Thank you.
(Mrs. Robinson, still waiting in the café, and is told she is wanted in the phone.)
Receptionist: Mrs. Robinson?
R: Yes?
Receptionist: For you.
R: Thank you. Hello.
B: Mrs. Robinson.
R: Yes?
B: It’s Benjamin.
R: Yes?
B: Benjamin Bradder.
R: Benjamin, where are you?
B: Can you look through the glass? Can you see me now?
R: Yes, I can.
B: I got a single room.
R: That’s fine.
B: But there’s one thing. The desk clerk seemed to be a little bet suspicious. Now, I don’t know what the policy is…
R: Well, do you want to go up first?
B: Yes, I think that would be good.
R: I’ll be up in five minutes.
B: Good-bye, then.
R: Benjamin?
B: Yes?
R: Isn’t there something you want to tell me?
B: Tell you?
R: Yes.
B: Well, I want you to know how much I appreciate this. Really.
R: The number.
B: What?
R: The room number, Benjamin. I think you want to tell me that.
B: You’re absolutely right. It’s 568.
R: Thank you.
B: You’re welcome. Well, I’ll see you later, Mrs. Robinson.
R: Check, please.
(Later they meet in the room.)
R: Hello, Benjamin.
B: Hello, Mrs. Robinson.
R: Well…
B: Well…
R: Benjamin?
B: Yes?
R: I’ll get undressed now. Is that all right?
B: Sure. Shall I…I mean shall I just stand here? I mean I don’t know what you want me to do.
R: Why don’ t you watch.
B: Oh, sure. Thank you.
R: Will you bring me a hanger?
B: What?
R: A hanger.
B: Oh, yes. Wood?
R: What?
B: Wood or wire, they have both.
R: Either one would be fine.
B: OK.
(Benjamin gets a hanger from the closet.)
R: Thank you. Would you help me with this please?
B: Certainly.
R: Thank you.
B: You’re welcome.
(Ben stands by. Mrs. Robinson turns off the light after getting undressed.)
R: Benjamin, would this be easier for you in the dark?
B: Mrs. Robinson, I can’t do this.
R: You what?
B: This is all terribly wrong.
R: Do you find me undesirable?
B: Oh no, Mrs. Robinson. I think you’re the most attractive of all my parents’ friends. I mean that. I find you desirable but I…for God’s sake, can you imagine my parents? Can you imagine what they would say if they just saw us here in this room right now?
R: What would they say?
B: I have no idea, Mrs. Robinson. But for God’s sake! They brought me up. They made a good life for me and I think they deserve better than this. I think they deserve a little better than jumping in the bed with the partner’s wife.
R: Are you afraid of me?
B: Oh, no, you’re missing the point. Look, maybe we could do something else together. Mrs. Robinson, would you like to go to a movie?
R: Can I ask you a personal question?
B: Ask me anything you want.
R: Is this your first time?
B: Is this what?
R: It is, isn’t it? It’s your first time.
B: That’s a laugh, Mrs. Robinson. That’s really a laugh.
R: Well, you can admit that, can’t you?
B: Are you kidding?
R: It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
B: Wait a minute.
R: I’m your first time…
B: Who said it’s my first time? Wait a minute.
R: I mean just because you happen to be inadequate in one way…
B: Inadequate?
R: I guess I’d better go…
B: Don’t move!
(Ben closes the door with a bang.)
April, come she will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain.
May, she will stay.
Resting in my arms again.
June, she’ll change her tune.
In restless walk she’ll prowl the night.
July, she will fly.
And give no warning to her flight.
August, die she must.
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold.
September, I’ll remember.
A loved one’s snoot has now grown old.
(Again in a hotel room.)
B: Look. For months all we’ve done is come up here and leap into bed together.
R: Are you tired of it?
B: I’m not, no. But you think we could live it up with a little conversation for a change?
R: What do you want to talk about?
B: Anything. Anything at all.
R: Do you want to tell me about some of your college experiences?
B: Oh, my God. Think about another topic.
R: How about art?
B: Art? That’s a good subject. You start it off.
R: You start it off. I don’t know anything about it.
B: Well, what do you want to know about it? Are you interested more in modern art or in classical art?
R: Neither.
B: You’re not interested in art?
R: No.
B: Then why do you want to talk about it?
R: I don’t.
B: Well, look. We’re going to do this thing. We’re going to have a conversation. Tell me what you did today.
R: I got up. I fixed breakfast for my husband.
B: There. There’s something we could have a conversation about. Your husband.
R: Oh, him.
B: I mean everything. I don’t know anything about how you work this. What do you say to him when you leave the house at night?
R: Nothing. He’s asleep.
B: Always? Doesn’t he wake up when you come home?
R: We have separate bedrooms.
B: Oh, I see. So you know, I don’t like to seem like I’m prying but I guess you don’t sleep together or anything.
R: No, we don’t.
B: How long has this been going on?
R: For God’s sake, let’s drop this.
B: Wait minute. Why did you marry him?
R: See if you can guess.
B: Well, I can’t.
R: Think real hard, Benjamin.
B: I can’t see why you did all, Alice. You didn’t have to marry him or anything, did you?
R: Don’t tell Elaine.
B: Oh no, you had to marry him because you got pregnant.
R: Are you shocked?
B: Well, I never thought of you and Mr. Robinson as the kind of people that…
R: All right now, let’s get to bed.
B: wait a minute, wait a minute. So how did it happen?
R: What?
B: You and Mr. Robinson. I mean, do you feel like telling me what were the circumstances.
R: Not particularly.
B: Was he a law student at the time?
R: Hmm-mm.
B: And you were a student also?
R: Hmm-mm.
B: At college?
R: Yes.
B: What was your major?
R: Benjamin, why are you asking me all these questions?
B: Because I’m interested, Mrs. Robinson. What was your major subject at college?
R: Art.
B: Art? But I thought you… I guess you kind of lost interest in it over the years then.
R: Kind of…
B: Well, how did it happen?
R: What?
B: You and Mr. Robinson.
R: How do you think?
B: I mean, did he take you up to his room or something? Did you go to a hotel?
R: Oh Benjamin, what does it possibly matter?
B: I’m curious.
R: We’d go to his car.
B: Oh no. In the car you did it?
R: Well, I don’t think we were the first.
B: What kind of car was it?
R: What?
B: You remember the make of the car?
R: Oh my Gosh!
B: Really, I want to know.
R: It was a Ford, Benjamin.
B: A Ford? A Ford, Goddamn it, that’s great! A Ford!
R: That’s enough.
F: Elaine’s back from school. I think it might be a nice gesture if you asked her out. (Ben keeps in silence, to his father’s annoyance.) Suppose she’s not good enough for you, is that it?
B: Look, Elaine Robinson and I do not get along.
F: How do you know? You haven’t seen her since high school. Or are your evenings, whatever you do with them, just too valuable?
B: That has nothing to do with it.
F: I guess I’ll just have to tell Mr. Robinson that you’re too busy every evening doing God knows what!
Ben’s mother: Now, don’t go on like this. If Benjamin absolutely refuses to take her out…
B: I do.
Ben’s mother: …then I’ll simply have to invite all the Robinsons over on Thursday.
(The Robinsons come to Ben’s home. There Elaine meets Ben.)
Elaine (E for short): Hello.
B: Hello.
F: But I want you to keep your wits about you tonight. You never know what tricks Ben picked up back there in the East.
(Ben drives Elaine out to a nightclub.)
E: You’re living at home now, is that right?
B: Yes.
E: Do you know what you are going to do?
B: No.
E: Are you going to graduate school?
B: No.
E: Do you always drive like this?
B: Yes. Elaine, I like you. I like you so much. Do you believe that? Do you?
E: Yes.
B: You’re the first thing for so long that I like. The first person that I could stand to be with. My whole life is such a waste. There’s just noting. I’m sorry. I’ll take you home now.
E: Benjamin, are you having an affair with someone? I’m sorry. I’m sorry, that’s not my business.
B: It just happened. It’s just a thing that happened along with everything else. Can you understand that?
E: Was she married or something?
B: Yes.
E: With a family.
B: Yes, she had a husband and a son.
E: Did they ever find out?
B: No.
E: And it’s all over now?
B: Yes.
E: I’m glad.
(Ben spends a sweet time with Elaine. One rainy day, Ben is waiting for Elaine outside her house. Elaine is still upstairs. Mrs. Robinson gets into the car.)
R: Drive down the block.
B: Mrs. Robinson. Elaine and I have a date. We’re going for a drive.
R: You’ll do exactly as I say.
B: It seems to me…
R: Listen to me very carefully, Benjamin. You are not to see Elaine again ever. Those are my orders, is that clear?
B: Mrs. Robinson, do you think we can…
R: I can make things quite unpleasant.
B: Oh.
R: In order to keep Elaine away from you, I am prepared to tell her everything.
B: I don’t believe you.
R: Then you’d better start believing me.
B: I just don’t believing you would do that.
R: Try me.
(Ben hastens into Elaine’s room, trying to tell the truth.)
B: Elaine! Elaine!
E: Benjamin?
B: Hurry up!
E: I’m not dressed yet. Benjamin, I said I wasn’t dressed!
B: You’ve got to go over the back fence and I’ll meet you at the corner.
E: What’s the matter?
B: Hurry. Put your shoes on.
E: Benjamin? Benjamin!?
B: Elaine…
E: What are you doing?
B: Elaine, I have to tell you something.
E: What is it?
B: That woman.
E: What?
B: The woman, that older woman that I told you about.
E: You mean that one.
B: Yes, the married woman; that wasn’t just some woman.
E: What are you telling me? Benjamin, will you just tell me what this is all about?
(Mrs. Robinson appears at the door. Ben looks at her, pale-faced. And Elaine understands all.)
E: Oh, no.
B: Elaine.
E: Oh, my God!
B: Please.
E: Get out of here.
B: Don’t cry.
E: Get out! Get out! Out! Get out!
(Elaine bangs the door tightly. Outside, Mrs. Robinson stares at Benjamin in a gloom.)
R: Good-bye, Benjamin.
(Several days later, Elaine moves back to school without saying a word to Ben. Ben misses her and everything about her.)
Are you going to Scarborough Fair
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
(Oh the side of a hill in the deep forest green)
Parsley, sage rosemary and thyme
(Tracing of sparrow on the snow crested brown)
Without no seams nor needless work
(Blankets and bed clothes the child of the mountain)
Then she’ll be a true love of mine
(Sleeps unaware of the clarion call)
Tell her to find me an acre of land
(On the side of a hill a sprinkling of leaves)
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
(Washes the grave with silvery tears)
Between the salt water and the sea strand
(A soldier cleans and publishes a gun)
Then she’ll be a true love of mine
F: Say that again?
B: I’m going to marry Elaine Robinson.
F: Well, well, well.
Ben’s mother: What’s happening?
F: Ben says that he and Elaine are getting married.
Ben’s mother: Ahh…I don’t believe it!
F: That’s what he says, right?
B: I’m going up to Berkeley today.
Ben’s mother: Oh, Ben.
F: Come on! We gotta call the Robinsons. We’ve got something to celebrate.
B: No, I think you wanna wait on that.
Ben’s mother: Ah, they don’t know.
B: No, they don’t.
Ben’s mother: Well, when did you decide all this?
B: About an hour ago.
F: Wait a minute; you talked to Elaine this morning?
B: No, she doesn’t know about it.
F: You mean, she doesn’t know you’re coming up to Berkeley.
B: No, actually she doesn’t know about us getting married yet.
Ben’s mother: When did you two talked this over?
B: We haven’t.
Ben’s mother: You haven’t.
F: Ben, this whole idea sounds pretty half-baked.
B: No, it’s not. It’s completely baked. It’s a decision I’ve made.
Ben’s mother: What makes you think she wants to marry you?
B: She doesn’t. To be perfectly honest, she doesn’t like me.
(Ben is now in Berkeley. But Elaine still doesn’t want to see him. Ben follows her everywhere. Then one day he gets a chance. After seeing Elaine steps in a bus, he pushes on and gets a seat beside her.)
B: Excuse me. Pardon me. Well, how about this for a coincidence? I was wondering where you were headed.
E: I’m meeting someone.
B: Ah. Where? Where are you meeting this person?
E: At the zoo.
B: The zoo. They have a pretty good one here, do they?
E: I don’t know, I’ve never seen it.
B: Oh. Well, I haven’t either. I might just ride out there with you.
(At the zoo.)
B: Is that him over there?
E: No.
B: Where did he say he was going to meet you?
E: I thought he said by the monkey house.
B: Oh.
E: Benjamin, I would like to know what you’re doing here.
B: Here in Berkeley?
E: Yes.
B: Well, I have this very pleasant room on Carter Street and I’ve been getting to some classes.
E: But you’re not enrolled.
B: No, I just sit in. They don’t seem to mind. They’ve been very congenial about it.
E: Benjamin, you’re…I don’t know what to say.
B: Maybe we can get together some time and talk about it.
E: Really incredible.
B: Here he comes.
E: What?
B: I’ve got a real feeling that this is the fella.
Boy: Elaine!
B: He certainly is a good walker.
Boy: Elaine, I’m sorry.
B: We thought you said by the monkey house.
E: This is Benjamin Bradder, Carl Smith. Benjamin rode here with me on the bus.
Boy: Glad to meet you, Ben.
B: Great meeting you, Carl. Swell seeing you.
(The next day, Elaine rushes to Ben’s dorm.)
B: Who is it?
E: I wanna ask you a question and then I’m going.
B: Come in.
E: No, I wanna know why you’re here in Berkeley.
B: Because…I am.
E: Is it because I’m here?
B: What do you think?
E: I think it is. I said I think it is!
B: All right then, yes.
E: Well, I want you to leave.
B: Well look, I love you.
E: How could you do that Benjamin? Do you just hate everything? How could you possibly rape my mother?
B: What?
E: I don’t understand…
B: Did you say, “rape her?”
E: …anyone could do…
B: What did she say? You gotta tell me what she said.
E: Why?
B: Because it isn’t true. Tell me.
E: She said that she was having a drink at the hotel with a friend and that you waited for her in the parking lot and told her that she was too drunk to drive home and that you would get her a room for the night.
B: Then what?
E: Then you took her upstairs and you raped her.
B: Oh no no, that’s not what happened. What happened was that there was this party at my parents’. I drove your mother home.
E: I don’t wanna hear this!
B: And we went upstairs to see your portrait…
E: No I don’t!
B: …and when we got in the room she started taking her clothes off.
E: This is my mother, Benjamin!
B: And suddenly there she was without any clothes on. I mean really naked.
E: I’m sorry I screamed. Benjamin, when you came up here, what did you think was going to happen between us?
B: Elaine, right now I don’t feel like talking much. I’m sorry about everything. But I think I’ll just do this now.
(Ben begins to pack his luggage for leaving.)
E: Can I just sit here while you’re packing?
B: Oh.
E: What are you going to do now?
B: I don’t know.
E: Are you going home?
B: No.
E: Well, where are you going?
B: Elaine, you’re going to have to stop asking me that.
E: I don’t want you to leave tomorrow.
B: I don’t understand.
E: I don’t want you to go anywhere. Until you have a definite plan. Good-bye.
(Elaine leaves. The next day, Elaine comes again.)
B: What’s happening?
E: Benjamin?
B: What?
E: Will you kiss me?
B: Will you marry me? You will?
E: I don’t know.
B: But you might?
E: I might.
B: Is that so? You might marry me?
E: Yes.
B: Well…
E: I don’t know.
B: How about tomorrow? I don’t mean to be pushy but…
E: I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening.
B: You mean you’re confused? Well, look, don’t be confused. We’re getting married.
E: I don’t see how we can.
B: We just can.
E: I have to go now.
B: Elaine, are you serious about this?
E: I’ll think about it.
B: You really will?
E: Yes.
(The next day, Ben has an unexpected visitor, Mr. Robinson.)
Mr. Robinson: Do you want to…er…do you want to try and tell me why you did it?
B: Mr. Robinson…
Mr. Robinson: Do you have a special grudge against me? Do you feel a particularly strong resentment?
B: No.
Mr. Robinson: Is there something I said that’s caused this contempt or is it just things I stand for that you despise?
B: It has nothing to do with you, sir.
Mr. Robinson: Well Ben, it was quite a bit to do with me.
B: Now look, please.
Mr. Robinson: Ben, I think we’re two civilized human beings. Do you think it is necessary to threaten each other?
B: I am not threatening you!
Mr. Robinson: Do you want to unclench your fist please? Thank you. I can see in the dark you know. I’ve been here quite a while.
B: I am trying to tell you I have no personal feelings about you, Mr. Robinson. I am trying to tell you I do not resent you.
Mr. Robinson: You don’t respect me terribly much either, do you?
B: No, sir.
Mr. Robinson: What?
B: No, sir.
Mr. Robinson: Don’t shout at me, Ben. I may not be as young as you but I still have pretty good hearing.
B: Mr. Robinson.
Mr. Robison: Have the decency to wait until I finish. I do think you should know the consequences of what you’ve done. I do think that you should know that my wife and I are getting divorced soon.
B: But why?
Mr. Robinson: Why?
B: Listen to me. What happened between Mrs. Robinson and me was nothing. It didn’t mean anything. We might just as well have been shaking hands.
Mr. Robinson: Shaking hands? Well, that’s not saying much for my wife, is it?
B: You missed the point.
Mr. Robinson: I guess I do.
B: The point is that I don’t love your wife. I love your daughter, sir.
Mr. Robinson: All right, now listen to this. I don’t know whether I can prosecute, but I think I can. I think I can get you behind bars if you ever look at my daughter again. I’ve made damn sure that you can’t get to her. Stay away from me, Ben. I won’t mince words with you. As far as Elaine is concerned you’re to get her out of your dopey mind right now. Is that perfectly clear to you? Then that’s all Ben. Then you’ll pardon me if I don’t shake hands with you. I think you are filth. I think you are scum.
(Mr. Robinson leaves in fury. Ben goes to Elaine, but she has left already.)
Girl: Elaine Robinson has left school. Her roommate is coming down with a note for you.
E: Dear Benjamin, please forgive me. Because I know what I’m doing is the best thing for you. My father is so upset, you’ve got to understand. I love you, but it would never work out.
(Leaving Berkeley, Ben starts home. He visits the Robinsons’ in search of Elaine, but is immediately stopped by Mrs. Robinson.)
B: Elaine?
R: Hello Benjamin.
B: Where’s she?
R: (Picking up the phone) Hello, get me the police please.
B: Where’s is Elaine?
R: I’ll be with you in a moment Benjamin. Do you have a patrol car in the vicinity of 1200Glenview Road? Good, we have a burglar here. Just a second, I’ll ask him. Are you armed? No, don’t believe he is. Thank you.
B: What have done to her?
R: I think we have everything quite under control now, Benjamin. Would you like a quick drink before you go?
B: You can’t stop me from seeing her, Mrs. Robinson. I’ll find her.
R: Sorry we won’t be able to invite you to the wedding Benjamin, but the arrangements have been so rushed.
B: What the hell have you done to her?
R: I don’t think you’ll have time for that drink after all.
B: I’ll find her.
R: I don’t think so.
(Ben drives franticly around in an attempt to find Elaine.)
B: Say fellas! Do any of you fellas know where Carl Smith is?
Boy A: Took off in the middle of the night to get married.
Boy B: Yeah, probably one step ahead of a shotgun!
B: Would you happen to know where he’s be getting married? I’m supposed to be there.
Boy A: Why don’t you ask Carter?
B: Would you happen to know where I might find him?
Boy A: Hey, Carter! Where is the May God King is getting married?
Carter: Santa Barbara!
B: You wouldn’t happen to know exactly where the old May God King is getting married, do you? I’m supposed to be there.
Boy A: Where in Santa Barbara?
Carter: I don’t know, maybe in his old man’s house. Or in the maternity ward.
Boy C: Hey, are you going to the wedding?
B: Yes.
Boy C: Hey, tell him to save a piece for me. Of the wedding cake!
(Ben stops at a gas station, and tries to make a call to Carl’s father.)
B: Hello, who is this?
Woman: This is Dr. Smith’s answering service.
B: Is the doctor anywhere?
Woman: Well, I’m afraid the doctor can’t be reached right now. Would you like to leave…
B: I have to know where he is!
Woman: Well, you see, the doctor is at his son’s wedding but I’m sure that it’s over by now. He should be checking in any moment.
B: Listen to me, I’m doctor Smith’s brother, Reverend Smith, and I’m supposed to perform the ceremony. I just got in from Portland and I’ve forgotten what church, you see?
Woman: Oh well, I’m not sure, but you might try the First Presbyterian, that’s on Allan Street.
B: Thank you. Allan Street, where is it?
Man: Allan. It’s …er…it’s…er…it’s six blocks up and three over. You need any gas, Father?
(At the church, the ceremony is just beginning. Ben arrives, and climbs upstairs, shouting Elaine’s name.)
Mr. Robinson: Oh Jesus God, no!
B: Elaine! Elaine! Elaine! Elaine!
Mr. Robinson: Who is that guy? What is he doing?
B: Elaine! Elaine! Elaine!
Mr. Robinson: Get him. You gotta stop him.
B: Elaine! Elaine! Elaine!
E: Ben!!
(Ben pushes and shouts his way through the crowd. Elaine is deeply touched and rushes into Ben’s arms. They both run out of the church. After his long struggle, Benjamin finally gets what he has cherished most all along.)
The end.
