The Graduate Scene 6 Summary

True Love at a Strip Club

  • Around the house, his parents keep pressuring Ben to date Elaine, but he refuses. They say they don't know what to tell Mr. Robinson, who keeps suggesting it.
  • Finally, they say they're going to invite all the Robinsons over for dinner. Ben slides off his raft into the pool with a look of terror on his face. He agrees to just call Elaine instead.
  • At the Robinsons' house, Mr. Robinson gives him a drink and then goes to find Elaine. We can hear Benjamin arguing with Mrs. Robinson in the other room when Mr. Robinson leaves. She's upset, and Ben says he had to take Elaine out but won't do it again.
  • Ben tries his best to sabotage the date, acting totally rude to Elaine, giving her terse answers and not ordering dinner for himself at the restaurant.
  • He takes her to a strip club. After the stripper messes with Elaine, she storms out in tears.
  • Ben follows, feeling terrible. He tries to say he only acted like a jerk because his parents made him go on the date. Then, he kisses her
  • They go to a drive-in where they stuff their faces and commiserate about their uncertainty over the future.
  • Ben says he doesn't understand the rules that run the world.
  • Ben almost takes Elaine home, but they decide to go somewhere else. Elaine suggests the Taft Hotel for a drink. Ben reluctantly goes, but when someone recognizes him using his fake name "Mr. Gladstone," he ducks out.
  • In the car, Ben admits to Elaine that he really likes likes her, that going out with her is the only thing that's happened that doesn't seem like a waste.
  • She asks him if he's been having an affair, and he admits that he has. But he says it's over.
  • They make plans to do something the next day.