1967年，"新好莱坞电影"的出现，更多贴近现实生活和年轻人思想感情的电影出 现，使好莱坞电影从纯粹的"逃避现实"消遣品逐渐变成"反映现实"的艺术品。 在这个变革里，达斯廷·霍夫曼(Dustin Hoffman)的成名作《毕业生》是一部举足轻重的代表作。这部大胆揭露六十年代年轻人迷失方向，戳破美式中产阶级虚伪面具的电影，成为"新好莱坞电影 "的先锋之作。
本片描述达斯汀·霍夫曼饰演一个刚步出大学校门的社会新鲜人本恩，面对众人口中所谓 的美好前程和他的父母筹备庆祝他毕业的家庭晚会，本恩却对未来生活感到茫然。 来客中的鲁宾逊太太对这个小伙子很感兴趣，并让本恩开车送她回家。风流的夫人不断挑逗本恩，但被拒绝。可是日子如此无聊，不久后他开始了同鲁宾逊太太幽 会，同时他也爱上了她的女儿伊莱恩。 鲁宾逊太太知道真相后坚决反对，并想尽办法拆散两人的交往。本恩终于找到机会向伊莱恩表白了爱意，并坦承了自己的坠落，只是没说出那个夫人的名字。 伊莱恩原谅了他，但鲁宾逊太太的震怒使伊莱恩猜到了一切。她伤心地与一个叫卡尔的人伧促结婚。本恩得知这一消息，不顾一切向教堂冲去，他要尽最后力量挽回 爱人的心。
我总是认为我要嫁的是一个能够带给我一首一文不名的诗歌配上玫瑰花的人，而非可以给你一栋房子的人。我们可以认为可 以能够带给你一座房子的人必定可以卖给你很多很多的花。然而我总是觉得给你一座房子的人未必有那份心境去给你一首诗，给你一首诗和一支花的人却一定愿意给 你一个家，请不要用给不给的起来质疑我，我们要看到的是潜在的可能性。青春的魅力就在于存在着这样太多美好的可能性。而那个无悔的青春正在与把这些可能性 变为现实。
当他和比他大20岁的女人夜夜同床共寝时，那疯狂的行为让他找到了青春的所在了么。他在床上试图问她一些问题的时 候，他的兴奋和她的不耐烦说明了他和她之间的隔阂无法挽回。他们在一张床上所要寻求的和要得到的根本是截然不同的事情。失却了探寻目标的做爱究竟在是令人 无法满意的。
无论在最当初他曾怎样给与她承诺，她却仍旧阻止不了爱情的力量。他爱上了曾经和她做爱的母亲的女儿。青春总是这样带 着荒唐可笑的色彩的，我们往往犯了不可原谅的错误之后才知道自己要什么。 当结局里两个人坐在车子里的时候，我们总算可以清楚，在青春的日子绝没有哪种错误是无可挽回的。
回想当初仅仅一个晚上的相识，主人公带着那句“我要和伊琳结婚了。”的想法后展开了他一系列的行动，尽管她是曾和他做爱的女人的女儿。
电视剧里的往往只有一个原因，就是我们只有当心爱的人远去了才知道自己不能失去的心痛，才敢于勇敢地去面对爱。影片 里我们看到那些支离破碎的线索，我们是怎样揪心的跟随着主人公的步伐，去追寻，这一执着是他明了以后从未停歇和放缓的。这不是成人世界的犹豫和权衡，不是 不敢爱，而是拼命爱，不顾一切的爱。（这让我想起《big fish》里面男主人追求女主人公的行为。）这种固执和执着是年少痴狂的青春最美好的品质。愿意去相信，他那近乎绝望的步伐都是真实的。
我只是有点担心。
担心什么？
我的未来。
那又是什么？
我不知道...我只想...与众不同。
据说这部电影反映了美国六十年代年轻一代的迷惘。可是在我看来，迷惘与年轻永远共存，关键在于能否找到心的方向，以及是否朝着哪个方向去坚持。
达斯 汀·霍夫曼对未知世界的彷徨和向往，以及那个洋溢着激情和冲动的结尾，都一丝不差地契合了毕业生的心情。当然，还有那首广为传唱的插曲，它会适时地荡起你 心中淡淡的离愁. 有时也会有一种对未来的迷茫就像影片中展示的那样,彷徨,无所事事.就是那样发呆,死死的发呆......
从影片的开始本的脸上就是一脸麻木的表情,正是所有毕业生所共有的.而影片的音乐更是增添了一种忧郁的色彩,悠悠的,清清的,让人不知不觉的进入了自己内 心的世界去思考些什么.什么呢?本是一个优秀的毕业生,而且他的家人早就为他准备好了一切就等着他的归来,而他对这些似乎还上不在意.他对自己的人生充满 了疑问.或许他也曾憧憬过很多美好的未来,但在现实生活中他要面对的东西远远超过了学校的书本,他要面对各种诱惑,还要承受高潮过后的寂寞,这就是人生. 或许他还没有作好准备,或许他开始暴露他人性中的缺点.
当罗宾逊太太邀请他到她家的时候,或者是在她开始诱惑他的时候,他的良知开始沦陷,我们不能说他的内心没有挣扎,但最后他还是选择的堕落.而罗宾逊太太就 是这个社会的象征,她牢牢掌控着本.她曾经也是一个像本一样憧憬美好的毕业生,但经过世事的经历,她一点一点的被这个社会同化.现在成了一个追求肉欲享 乐,精神空虚的半老徐娘.在自身受到威胁时是那么的狡诈恶毒.或许到最后我们都会像她那样吧.而这时的本也暴露了他的弱点,他懦弱,这一点从开始在罗宾逊 太太家里面对她的调情是本的不知所措就可以看出.面对这个社会本是一张空白的纸,他要经历的东西还有很多,他要学的东西还有很多.现在的本精神也如罗宾逊 太太一样空虚,但他多了懦弱.
但在与罗宾逊太太偷情的这段时间里他也感觉到了无聊一天他的父亲严厉的问到"你对自己的未来到底有什么打算" 时, 他被刺眼的阳光弄得睁不开眼,现实的问题对他来说是那么棘手,而他只能在不停的游泳和偷情中去逃避."你问住我了"本的回答无力而迷茫,但这也唤起了他对 自身的思考.
而就在这时他的天使一连出现了.一连可以说是片中唯一的完美形象了但可惜也是三个人中最单纯的一个.本从她身上发现了自己已经和逐渐失去的东西,终于鼓起 勇气向一连告白,但事情当然不会那么简单,罗宾逊太太疯了似的阻挠他们.但两颗相爱的心走到了一起,终于在一个大雨之日本向一连坦白了他的行为,但当一连 知道那个女人就是自己的母亲时.她无法忍受毅然的离开了本.
一连的离开让本开始思考,他发现自己不能没有一连,她带给他太多的东西,让他找到了自己的方向,找到了自己生活下去的理由.他决定追回一连.
在破坏婚礼的这场戏里,镜头对混乱的表现很到位,在看到窗外哀号的本时,镜头分别给罗宾逊太太和罗宾逊先生一个特写,夹杂在混乱的全景中,级好的表现了他们那种虚伪面孔下的穷凶级恶的扭曲,而本终于得到了一连.
最后两个人奔跑着踏上象征自由的公车奔向解放.他们的脸上露出了灿烂的笑容,眼中有希望有欣喜有决心但也有些许的迷茫.新的生活就要开始不知道两个人即将面对的会是什么?
那天，走在街上，听到一家音像店放《斯卡布罗集市》，就自然而然想起了《毕业生》。
有的电影，能让人感怀至深，唏嘘良久，那能称为一部成功的电影；而有的电影，当时你也许知识稍微的触动，但它却能穿过时光的隧道，在遥远的将来的日子里，牵起你丝缕的回忆，抓住你的心，那叫做一部经典的电影。《毕业生》无疑是一部经典！
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.
联系客服
