Elizabeth Wilson: Mrs. Braddock

The Graduate

Mrs. Braddock

Benjamin: [It's morning. Mr. Braddock is in the kitchen. Ben walks in] I'm going to marry Elaine Robinson.
Mr. Braddock: Well, well, well!
[He almost giggles as he crosses to Ben and takes his hand to shake it. Mrs. Braddock appears in the doorway]
Mrs. Braddock: What's happening
Mr. Braddock: Ben says he and Elaine are getting married.
Mrs. Braddock: [screams for joy] I don't believe it.
Mr. Braddock: That what he says. Right?
Benjamin: I'm going up to Berkeley today.
Mrs. Braddock: Oh, Ben. This is so exciting.
Mr. Braddock: Come on, let's call the Robinsons. We've got something to celebrate.
Benjamin: No. I think you'll want to wait on that.
Mr. Braddock: They don't know?
Benjamin: No, they don't.
Mr. Braddock: Well, when did you decide all this?
Benjamin: About an hour ago.
Mr. Braddock: Wait a minute. You talked to Elaine this morning?
Benjamin: No. She doesn't know about it.
Mr. Braddock: She doesn't know that you're coming up to Berkeley?
Benjamin: No. Actually, she doesn't know about us getting married yet.
Mr. Braddock: When did you two talk this over?
Benjamin: We haven't.
Mr. Braddock: Ben, this whole idea sounds pretty half-baked.
Benjamin: No, it's not, Dad. It's completely baked. It's a decision I've made.
Mrs. Braddock: But what makes you think she wants to marry you?
Benjamin: [Ben picks up his suitcase, walks to the door] She doesn't. To be perfectly honest, she doesn't like me.

Mrs. Braddock: [Ben is shaving in his bathroom] Oh, my.
Benjamin: Hi.
Mrs. Braddock: Hi, can I talk to you for a minute?
Benjamin: Sure.
Mrs. Braddock: Benji... darling, I'm, uh... going to ask you something, but you don't have to tell me if you don't want to.
Benjamin: What?
Mrs. Braddock: Well, I was going to ask you what you do when you go off at night.
Benjamin: When I go out?
Mrs. Braddock: You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to.
Benjamin: No, I do, i want to tell you: I drive around.
Mrs. Braddock: What else?
Benjamin: Nothing else.
Mrs. Braddock: Well, you don't drive around from midnight til noon the next day, Benjamin?
Benjamin: Oh, no.
Mrs. Braddock: Well then, what do you do? Do you meet someone?
Benjamin: [Benjamin nicks his finger with the razor] Meet someone?
Mrs. Braddock: Hm.
Benjamin: Why do you say that?
Mrs. Braddock: Well, this is your business. I won't play games with you.
Benjamin: No wait, wait! I don't meet anyone, Mother, but why do you say that?
Mrs. Braddock: Benjamin, I don't want to pry into your affairs, but I would rather you didn't say anything at all than be dishonest. Good night.
[Mrs. Braddock leaves]
Benjamin: Well, wait! Wait a minute!

Mr. Braddock: [at the kitchen table] Elaine's back from school. It might be a nice gesture if you asked her out.
Benjamin: [in the swimming pool] I suppose she's not good enough for you! Is that it?
Benjamin: Look, Elaine Robinson and I do not get along.
Mr. Braddock: How do you know? You haven't seen her since high school. I suppose your evenings - whatever you do with them - are just too valuable.
Benjamin: That has nothing to do with it.
Mr. Braddock: I guess I'll just have to tell Mr. Robinson that you're too busy every evening, doing God knows what.
Mrs. Braddock: Now, don't go on like this!
Mr. Braddock: I'm not.
Mrs. Braddock: If Benjamin absolutely refuses to take her out...
Benjamin: I do.
Mrs. Braddock: Then I will simply have to invite all of the Robinsons over on Thursday.
[Ben falls off his air mattress and splashes into the pool]

Mrs. Braddock: The Robinsons are here.
Mr. Robinson: Hi, Ben. What are you doing with yourself these days?
Benjamin: Oh, not too much. Taking it easy.
Mr. Robinson: That's what I'd do if I could. Nothing wrong with that. Hey, Ben, Elaine's coming down from Berkeley soon. I want you to call her up this time.
Benjamin: I will.
Mr. Robinson: 'Cause I just think you two would hit it off real well together.
Mrs. Braddock: Say hello to Mrs. Robinson, Benjamin.
Benjamin: Hello, Mrs. Robinson.
Mrs. Robinson: Hello, Benjamin.