Kramer Versus Kramer

INT. JOANNA'S BEDROOM – MORNING

ON JOANNA

As she selects a very conservative suit from her closet.

CUT TO:

INT. BILLY KRAMER'S BEDROOM – MORNING

WIDE SHOT

As Ted, now fully dressed, wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt, conservative tie, leans over Billy and wakes him.

CUT TO:

INT. COFFEE SHOP – MORNING

Joanna sits across from her lawyer as he talks to her, intently, giving her last-minute instructions.

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – MORNING

ON TED KRAMER

Taking Billy to school. They stop at the entrance, Ted kisses his son good-bye and stands for a moment watching as the boy runs into the building.

CUT TO:

EXT. COURTHOUSE – DAY

WIDE SHOT

It is a bleak January morning, the streets around the courthouse are mobbed with people on their way to work. We SEE Ted Kramer, a tiny figure among hundreds, coming out of the subway. He crosses the street and starts up the steps of the large and forbidding courthouse.

CUT TO:

INT. COURTHOUSE – DAY

WIDE SHOT

As Ted gets off the elevator and starts down the corridor, toward the courtroom. In the f.g.,  – standing by the door of the courtroom itself is John Shaunessy, he greets Ted, they shake hands and talk together for a moment. Then, as they enter the courtroom:

CUT TO:

INT. COURTROOM

ON THE DOOR

As Ted enters, looks around. Mrs. Willewska sits in one of the back rows, wearing her best Easter hat. Ted pauses by her, thanks her for coming.

Several rows in front of her is Thelma. Ted crosses to her, they talk quietly between themselves for a few moments. Then Ted moves on to a table at the front of the room where John Shaunessy waits.

ON THE DOORS AT THE BACK OF THE COURTROOM

As they swing open and Joanna, along with her lawyer, a MR. GRESSEN. THE CAMERA PANS WITH THEM as they walk to the front of the room and take their seats at the table opposite Ted and his lawyer.

CLERK
Oyez, oyez... The third Circuit Court of the State of New York, Judge Atkins presiding is now in session. All rise...

WIDE SHOT

As the judge enters, takes his seat.

Opening business of the court.

WIDE SHOT

As Gressen (Joanna's lawyer) gets to his feet.

GRESSEN

Your honor. As our first witness I would like to call Joanna Kramer.

TWO SHOT – TED AND SHAUNESSY

The lawyer leans across to Ted.

SHAUNESSY

(stage whisper)

Real direct. Motherhood... They're going right for the throat.

WIDE SHOT

As Joanna gets to her feet, crosses to the witness stand and is sworn in.

Note: Throughout the following, we continually CROSS-CUT to Ted Kramer, leaning forward, listening intently. It becomes evident that, in spite of himself, there are moments he feels great compassion for Joanna.

GRESSEN
Now then, Mrs. Kramer, would you tell the court how long you were married?

JOANNA

Six years.

GRESSEN

And would you describe those years as happy?

JOANNA

The first couple, yes, but after that it became increasingly difficult.

GRESSEN

Mrs. Kramer, did you ever work in a job while you were married to your ex-husband?

JOANNA

No, I did not.

GRESSEN

Did you wish to?

JOANNA

Yes. I tried to talk to Ted – my ex-husband – about it, but he wouldn't listen. He refuses to discuss it in any serious way. I remember one time he said I probably couldn't get a job that would pay enough to hire a baby-sitter for Billy.

GRESSEN

Tell me, Mrs. Kramer, are you employed at the present time?

JOANNA

Yes, I work for Jantzen as a sportswear designer.

GRESSEN

And what is your present salary?

JOANNA

I make thirty-one thousand dollars a year.

REACTION – TED

Stunned.

GRESSEN

(switching tactics)

Mrs. Kramer, do you love your child?

JOANNA

(emphatically)

Yes. Very much.

GRESSEN

And yet you chose to leave him?

There is a long pause, then:

JOANNA

(speaking carefully, with great thought)

Yes... Look, during the last five years we were married, I had... I was getting more and more... unhappy, more and more frustrated. I needed to talk to somebody. I needed to find out if it was me, if I was going crazy or what. But every time I turned to Ted – my ex-husband, he couldn't handle it. He became very... I don't know, very threatened. I mean, whenever I would bring up anything he would act like it was some kind of personal attack. Anyway, we became more and more separate... more and more isolated from one another. Finally, I had no other choice, I had to leave. And because of my ex-husband's attitude – his unwillingness to deal with my feelings, I had come to have almost no self-esteem...

(with feeling)

At the time I left, I sincerely believed that there was something wrong with me – that my son would be better off without me. It was only when I got to California and started into therapy I began to realize I wasn't a terrible person. And that just because I needed some creative and emotional outlet other than my child, that didn't make me unfit to be a mother.

GRESSEN

(to the judge)

Your honor, I would like to place in evidence a report on Mrs. Kramer's therapy by her therapist, Dr. Elinore Freedman of La Jolla, California.

And with that he hands both the judge and Shaunessy a thick sheaf of papers. Then, turning his attention back to Joanna:

GRESSEN

Mr. Kramer, why did you set up residence in New York?

JOANNA

Because my son is here. And his father is here. As a mother, I don't want my child to be separated from his father.

GRESSEN

Mrs. Kramer, can you tell the court why you are asking for custody?

There is a pause, then:

JOANNA

Because he's my child... Because I love him. I know I left my son, I know that's a terrible thing to do. Believe me, I have to live with that every day of my life. But just because I'm a woman, don't I have a right to the same hopes and dreams as a man? Don't I have a right to a life of my own? Is that so awful? Is my pain any less just because I'm a woman? Are my feelings any cheaper? I left my child – I know there is no excuse for that. But since then, I have gotten help. I have worked hard to become a whole human being. I don't think I should be punished for that. I don't think my son should be punished for that. Billy's only six. He needs me. I'm not saying he doesn't need his father, but he needs me more. I'm his mother.

There is a beat of silence, then:

GRESSEN

Thank you, Mrs. Kramer. I have no further questions.

ON SHAUNESSY

As he stands, collects his papers from the table and, taking his own sweet time, crosses to Joanna.

SHAUNESSY

Now then, Mrs. Kramer, you said you were married seven years. Is that correct?

JOANNA

Yes.

SHAUNESSY

In all that time did your husband ever strike you or abuse you physically in any way.

JOANNA

No.

SHAUNESSY

Did your husband strike or physically abuse his child in any way?

JOANNA

No.

SHAUNESSY

Would you describe your husband as an alcoholic?

JOANNA

No.

SHAUNESSY

A heavy drinker?

JOANNA

No.

SHAUNESSY

Was he unfaithful?

JOANNA

No.

SHAUNESSY

Did he ever fail to provide for you?

JOANNA

No.

SHAUNESSY

(wry smile)

Well, I can certainly understand why you left him.

GRESSEN

Objection.

SHAUNESSY

(switching his line of questioning)

How long do you plan to live in New York, Mrs. Kramer?

JOANNA

Permanently.

Note: During the early part of Shaunessy's cross-examination, Joanna has been very forthright, very sure of herself. Now, as he starts getting tougher, she begins to falter.

SHAUNESSY

Permanently?

(smiles, like a shark smiles)

Mrs. Kramer, how many boy friends have you had – permanently?

ON JOANNA

Her head snaps back as though she's been hit.

JOANNA

I don't recall.

SHAUNESSY

(boring in)

How many lovers have you had – permanently?

JOANNA

(looks toward Gressen for help)

I don't recall.

SHAUNESSY

More than three, less than thirty-three – permanently?

ON GRESSEN

He is again on his feet, outraged.

GRESSEN

Objection!

JUDGE

Overruled. The witness will answer, please.

JOANNA

(almost a whisper)

Somewhere in between.

SHAUNESSY

Do you have a lover now?

GRESSEN

(furious)

Objection!

SHAUNESSY

(to the judge)

Your honor, I would request a direct answer to a direct question. Does she have a lover?

JUDGE

I'll allow that. The witness will answer please.

JOANNA

(in a whisper)

Yes.

SHAUNESSY

Is that... permanent?

JOANNA

(by now she is becoming thoroughly rattled)

I... I don't know...

SHAUNESSY

Then, we don't really know, do we, when you say "permanently" if you're planning to remain in New York, or even to keep the child for that matter, since you've never really done anything in your life that was continuing, stable, that could be regarded as permanent.

ON THE PETITIONER'S TABLE

Gressen jumps to his feet.

GRESSEN

Objection! I must ask that the counsel be prevented from harassing the witness.

JUDGE

Sustained.

SHAUNESSY

(a new attack)

Mrs. Kramer, how can you consider yourself a fit mother when you have been a failure at virtually every relationship you have undertaken as an adult?

GRESSEN

(red in the face)

Objection!

JUDGE

Sustained.

SHAUNESSY

I'll ask it another way. What was the longest personal relationship you have had in your life – other than parents and girlfriends?

JOANNA

(rattled)

Ah... I guess I'd have to say... with my child.

SHAUNESSY

(wonder, irony)

Whom you've seen twice in a year? Mrs. Kramer, your ex-husband, wasn't he the longest personal relationship in your life?

JOANNA

(reluctantly)

I suppose...

SHAUNESSY

Would you speak up, Mrs. Kramer? I couldn't hear you.

JOANNA

(louder)

Yes.

SHAUNESSY

How long was that?

JOANNA

We were married two years before the baby. And then four very difficult years.

SHAUNESSY

So, you were a failure at the longest, most important relationship in your life.

GRESSEN

Objection!

JUDGE

Overruled.

JOANNA

I was not a failure.

SHAUNESSY

(sarcastic)

Oh? What do you call it then – a success? The marriage ended in divorce.

JOANNA

(so angry she forgets her cool)

I consider it less my failure than his.

SHAUNESSY

(seizes on this)

Congratulations, Mrs. Kramer. You have just rewritten matrimonial law. You were both divorced, Mrs. Kramer.

GRESSEN

(on his feet)

Objection!

SHAUNESSY

(to the judge)

Your honor, I'd like to ask what this model of stability and respectability has ever succeeded at?

(to Joanna)

Mrs. Kramer, were you a failure at the longest, most important personal relationship in your life?

CLOSE ON JOANNA

Who sits silently.

JUDGE

Please answer the question, Mrs. Kramer.

JOANNA

(whisper)

It did not succeed.