KRAMER VERSUS KRAMER
Screenplay
by
Robert Benton
Based on the novel by Avery Corman
Revised Third Draft
July 14, 1978
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FADE IN:
1 INT. OFFICE, ADVERTISING AGENCY, MIDTOWN - EVENING
WIDE SHOT--A large and very comfortable office over-
looking St. Patrick's Cathedral. At the moment the
office is filled to bursting with men and women, slumped
in chairs, sitting on desks, all of them very tense.
Among the crowd of people we note: MURRAY FISHER, a
young and very ambitious junior executive and PHYLLIS
BERNARD, an attractive woman in her early thirties.
She is a lawyer with the agency.
At the moment, TED KRAMER, nice-looking without being
what you would call a matinee idol, paces back and
forth. His tie is loosened, he checks his watch every
fifteen seconds. Clearly he is very distraught.
TED
(predicting the worst)
They're not gonna call...I tell
you they're not gonna call. I
blew it. I don't know what I
did wrong, but I--
REVERSE ON JIM O'CONNOR--Ted's boss and good friend.
He is in his middle fifties, nattily dressed with the
slightly bleary look of a heavy drinker. He sits back
in his chair with his feet propped on the desk and a
drink in one hand.
O'CONNOR
(not unfriendly)
Ted, will you take it easy?
Revlon's not about to drop an
account that represents more
than two million in gross
billing receipts in a small
agency like this, without making
us sweat. Now just relax, okay?
Everything's gonna be fine.
TED
(at this stage,
nothing will help)
I don't think so, Jim. Maybe I
shouldn't have--
Sound-effect: the phone rings.
Everyone freezes. As O'Connor reaches for the phone,
CUT TO:
2A INT. CHILD'S ROOM, KRAMER APT. - EVENING
The room is dark, the only light coming from a small
night light. We SEE a beautiful five year old boy
(BILLY KRAMER). He lies in bed, half asleep. HOLD
FOR A BEAT as a beautiful woman (JOANNA KRAMER) leans
over, kisses the child and hugs him tightly to her.
JOANNA
(intense)
I love you, Billy...
BILLY
(drowsy)
I love you too, mommy...Good-
night...
ON JOANNA--She gets up from the bed and starts toward
the door of the child's room.
JOANNA
Sleep tight...
BILLY
Don't let the bedbugs bite...
Joanna stops in the doorway, silhouetted against the
light. She turns, takes a last look at her son, then
steps outside.
CUT TO:
3 INT. HALLWAY - EVENING
ON JOANNA--Now that the light is brighter, we can SEE
her more clearly. In her mid-thirties, she is beauti-
ful, dressed in a style that can best be described as
Bloomingdale's. HOLD FOR A BEAT as she leans against
the door. It is clear from her expression that she
is terribly upset. Then, making up her mind, she
crosses to a closet and takes out a suitcase.
4 THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH HER as she carries it into the
bedroom, lays it out on the bed and opens it. PAN WITH
HER as she crosses to a closet, grabs an armload of
clothes and dumps them helter-skelter into the
suitcase.
CUT TO:
5 INT. O'CONNOR'S OFFICE - EVENING
It is a few minutes later, the news has obviously been
good because there is a general celebration in progress.
Jim O'Connor, now standing, raises one hand for
silence, then making a toast.
O'CONNOR
Here's to Ted Kramer.
Cheers and good-natured jokes.
O'CONNOR
(putting an arm around
Ted squeezing him tight)
I wanna tell you something about
this little runt. He went out
there and sold the shit out of
Revlon and that's why we got
the account. It was his idea,
it was his concept, right down
the line...
More hoots and cheers. People start to yell "Speech."
TED
(embarrassed, but
cannot stop grinning)
All I can say...All I can say
is this is maybe one of the five
best days of my whole life...
CUT TO:
6 INT. BATHROOM, KRAMER APT. - EVENING
Joanna stands at the medicine cabinet, going through
it, packing things in a travel kit: rollers,
deodorant, makeup, birth control pills. She starts
to take a small bottle of perfume that has only an
eighth of an inch of fluid left inside, hesitates,
then puts it back.
CUT TO:
7 INT. O'CONNOR'S OFFICE - EVENING
Now some time has passed, most of the crowd has gone
and only the regulars are left.
TED
(in the middle of
a story)
So anyway Jim and I are making
the pitch, right? And all of
a sudden this old guy starts to
cough and I keep on going and
he keeps on coughing and I
keep on going and he keeps on
coughing and--
Murray Fisher leans over, shakes Ted's hand.
MURRAY
(interrupting)
Congratulations, Ted. That was
a hell of a job.
TED
(surprised)
Where you goin' Murray, it's
early?
MURRAY
Got to get home.
TED
(glancing at his
watch)
Oh, Christ, I'm late...I gotta
get out of here.
(however, instead
of going, he
settles back and
resumes his story)
So anyway, I look over and this
old geezer is starting to turn
blue and I swear to God the only
thing I can think about is that
this poor sonofabitch is gonna
die on me and screw up the pitch.
CUT TO:
8 INT. KITCHEN, KRAMER APT. - EVENING
INSERT: A long and meticulous list that Joanna is making
out of the phone numbers and addresses of doctors and
hospitals, of what the various medicines are for, and
of the foods that Billy is and isn't permitted to eat.
WIDER ANGLE--as Joanna puts the finishing touches on
the list and carefully arranges it on top of the kitchen
counter next to a box of unsweetened, whole grain cereal
and a jar of honey.
Note: It is this same set of notes that Ted will later
unthinkingly throw away.
CUT TO:
9 EXT. OFFICE BUILDING, MIDTOWN - NIGHT
WIDE SHOT--as the doors to the outer lobby open and
Ted and O'Connor appear. Ted starts to hail a cab,
O'Connor stops him.
O'CONNOR
Hey, what's the rush? C'mon,
walk me a couple of blocks.
TED
Jim, I've got to go. I'm
already late--
O'CONNOR
Listen, Ted...I just want to tell
you, when old man Schmidt retires
next year, I've got a pretty
good feeling they'll kick me
upstairs...
He turns and starts to walk off down the street, Ted,
of course, follows.
O'CONNOR
...and when they do, I just want
you to know I'm takin' you along
with me.
CUT TO:
10 INT. BEDROOM, KRAMER APT. - NIGHT
CLOSE ON JOANNA--as she goes through her jewelry case,
taking some things, leaving others. In the B.G. we
SEE a framed photograph of Billy, smiling, looking
into the camera.
CUT TO:
11 EXT. STREET - NIGHT
ON TED AND O'CONNOR--tracking with them as they walk.
O'CONNOR
(feeling no pain)
Y'know, Ted, I mean what I said
back there. You did a hell of a
job on this and I want you to
know I'm turning the whole
show over to you.
TED
(thrilled)
Wow!
O'CONNOR
I mean it Ted, you're running
this one.
CUT TO:
12 INT. BEDROOM, KRAMER APT. - NIGHT
WIDE SHOT--The suitcase is now full. Joanna zips it
shut and looks around to make sure that she hasn't
forgotten anything.
Then, she hefts her suitcase and starts out of the room.
CUT TO:
13 INT. FOYER - NIGHT
WIDE SHOT--Joanna carries in the suitcase, sets it by
the front door, then she crosses to the living room and
sits down at the dining table.
CLOSER IN ON HER--She takes out a list made on the back
of an old envelope. As she begins to review it, check-
ing off some items:
O.S. Sound: A key turning in the lock.
As Joanna looks up,
CUT TO:
HER P.O.V.: as the door swings open to reveal Ted Kramer,
an enormous grin on his face, a bottle of champagne in
his hand. He is so full of himself that he doesn't
notice there is anything wrong.
Note: Throughout the entire scene he carries the bottle
of champagne, never putting it down.
TED
I thought you might just like to
know that at five-fifteen this
afternoon we were officially
handed the Fire and Ice account
by Revlon.
CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN THEM:
JOANNA
(she takes a deep
breath, then:)
Ted, I'm leaving you.
TED
That represents a gross billing
in excess of two million--
(hearing her)
What?!
Joanna opens her purse, takes out her keys and wallet.
JOANNA
Here are my keys. I won't be
needing them any more.
Note: Ted does not for a moment believe that his wife
will really leave him. All he can think of right now
is that he will have to spend the rest of the evening
coping with one of her moods.
TED
(sardonic)
I'm sorry I'm late, all right?
I'm sorry I didn't call--I was
busy making a living.
CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN THEM: Joanna doesn't even bother
to look up at him. She opens her purse, takes out her
wallet and begins removing credit cards.
JOANNA
My American Express...My
Bloomingdale's Credit Card...
My check book--
TED
(the martyr)
Okay, okay...What is it this
time? What did I do now?...
JOANNA
(ignoring this)
I took two thousand out of the
savings account. That was what
I had in the bank when we got
married.
TED
Joanna, whatever it is, believe
me, I'm sorry.
JOANNA
Here are the slips for the laundry
and the cleaning. They'll be
ready on Saturday.
TED
(hard lining it)
Now listen, before you do something
you'll really regret you'd better
stop and think--
JOANNA
(not bothering to
look up)
I've paid the rent, the Con-Ed
and the phone bill, so you don't
have to worry about them.
She checks off the last item on her list as her husband
watches, dumbfounded.
JOANNA
There, that's everything.
Joanna gets to her feet and starts toward the front
door. In an instant Ted is after her.
TED
(panic starting)
For God's sake, Joanna, would
you at least tell me what I did
that's so terrible! Would you
do me that little favor?
ON JOANNA--at the door.
JOANNA
Look, it's not your fault, okay?
It's me. It's my fault--you
just married the wrong person.
TED
(placating her)
So we've got problems. Everybody's
got problems--that's normal--
Joanna opens the door and they step out into the hallway.
14 INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE KRAMER APT. - EVENING
JOANNA
Ted, you're not listening to me.
It's over, finished.
TED
I'm listening, Joanna--believe me,
I'm listening. My wife is walking
out on me after eight years of--
JOANNA
(bitter)
You just don't get it, do you?
(as though to a child)
I - am - really - and - truly -
leaving - you.
TED
I heard you, Joanna. I promise
I heard you.
JOANNA
No you didn't.
(quietly)
You didn't even ask about Billy.
TED
(stiffening)
What about Billy?
JOANNA
I'm not taking him with me.
TED
What?
JOANNA
(tears start)
Ted, I can't...I tried...I really
tried but...I just can't hack it
anymore...
TED
C'mon, Joanna, you don't mean
that. You're a terrific mother--
JOANNA
(from her gut)
I am not! I'm a terrible mother!
I'm an awful mother. I yell at
him all the time. I have no
patience. No...No. He's better
off without me.
(unable to look
at Ted)
Ted, I've got to go...I've got
to go.
TED
(desperate)
Okay, I understand and I promise
I won't try and stop you, but you
can't just go...Look, come inside
and talk...Just for a few minutes.
JOANNA
(pleading)
NO!...Please...Please don't make
me stay...I swear...If you do,
sooner or later...maybe tomorrow,
maybe next week...maybe a year
from now...
(looking directly
at him)
I'll go right out the window.
Sound-effect: The elevator approaching.
CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN THEM--There is nothing more that
can be done, this is the last moment of intimacy.
TED
(quiet)
Where are you going?
JOANNA
I don't know...
The elevator door opens, Joanna steps inside.
TED
Do you want me to help you get a
cab?
Joanna shakes her head. The elevator door closes behind
her and it starts to descend.
ON TED KRAMER--He stands for a moment, stunned, unable
to move. Then he turns and races back into the
apartment.
15 THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH HIM as he rushes across
to one of the living room windows, throws it open
and leans out.
16 HIS P.O.V.: looking down to the street from the
eighth floor. We SEE Joanna step off the curb and
hail a passing taxi.
TED
(calling out)
Joanna!?.. .Joanna?!
Either she doesn't hear him or else she pays no attention.
She gets into the cab, closes the door behind her and it
drives away.
CUT TO:
17 INT. APT. - NIGHT
ON TED--as he stands for a moment watching the taxi as
it disappears. Then, slowly, he closes the window,
turns, and AS THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH HIM, walks into
the bedroom.
The bedroom is a mess: the closet door stands open,
inside Joanna's section is empty except for some shoe-
boxes and a few dresses that are scattered across the
floor. Several dresser drawers have been pulled out
and their contents emptied. HOLD IN A WIDE SHOT-as Ted
wearily picks up one of the dresses and hangs it back
on its hanger in its proper place, ready for Joanna's
return. As he continues straightening up the room,
THE CAMERA SLOWLY FADES TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
18 INT. LIVING ROOM - VERY LATE AT NIGHT
WIDE SHOT--Ted Kramer paces back and forth, eyeing the
phone. Then, coming to a decision, he crosses to it,
picks up the receiver and starts to dial.
CUT TO:
19 EXT. APT. BLDG. - LATE AT NIGHT
WIDE SHOT--The building is dark except for the Kramer
apartment which is ablaze with lights. HOLD as we HEAR:
Sound: The phone ringing. Then:
WOMAN'S VOICE
(obviously asleep)
Huh.. .Hello?
TED
(righteous)
All right, Thelma...That's it.
I've had it. You can call your
good friend Joanna Kramer and tell
her enough is enough, okay? I
mean, I don't know what I did,
but you can tell her she's made
her point.
WOMAN'S VOICE
Ted, what are you talking about?!
TED
Don't play innocent with me,
Thelma. You know perfectly
well what's going on.
WOMAN'S VOICE
(exasperated)
Ted, I don't understand a word
you're saying. Where's Joanna?
TED
Ha! You tell me.
Sound-effect, as Ted slams down the receiver.
20 Instantly a light is turned on two floors below.
CUT TO:
21 INT. FOYER, KRAMER APT. - NIGHT
ON THE FRONT DOOR--as we HEAR:
Sound-effect: the doorbell rings.
A moment later Ted opens the door and THELMA PHILLIPS
enters. She is a neighbor (Apt. 6-B) and Joanna
Kramer's best friend. About four months ago Thelma
and her husband Charley were divorced. Until then the
two families had been very close, the Kramer's son
(Billy) being about the same age as the Phillips'
daughter (Kim). With the divorce, however, the Kramers
tried to remain friends with both Thelma and Charley
and that has caused a certain amount of friction.
Thelma is an attractive woman in her mid-thirties. She
dresses well, works out religiously at Jack LaLanne's
and goes to a therapist twice a week. She is also given
to acting the lay analyst with her friends. Thelma is
generous with her advice, sharing the wealth so to speak.
With all of this she is kind, loyal and a loving friend.
At the moment, however, she is all business.
THELMA
(looking around,
suspiciously)
All right. What's going on?
ON TED--From his attitude it is clear that there is no
love lost between them.
TED
All right, Thelma, you want to
know what's going on? I'll tell
you what's going on. I'll tell
you exactly what's going on.
THELMA
Look, Ted, all I--
TED
(starting to
really roll)
I came home tonight. We just got
the Fire and Ice account at the
agency. Do you know what that
means?! Do you understand
what that means? It means that
it was maybe one of the five
best days in my whole life.
THELMA
Ted, all I wanted to know was
where--
TED
(not letting her get
a word in edgewise)
I walk in the house and before
I can say "How are you?", "Did
you have a nice day?" before I
can say anything. Pow she's
out the door.
THELMA
OhmyGod. Didn't she say anything?
She must've said something.
TED
(sarcastic)
Yeah, she said it wasn't any
use talking anymore.
THELMA
Ted, don't be so hostile.
Ted draws himself upright with the dignity of the
Ambassador to the Court of St. James. However, during
the following, he begins pounding the pillows on the
couch into shape with real vehemence.
TED
Hostile?
(pow)
Me?
(whack)
Thelma, I'm not hostile.
(thud)
I am anything but hostile.
(sock)
But if you want to know what
I am. I'll tell you what I am.
What I am is, I am hurt. I am very
hurt. And I just want to know
one thing, okay? Just one thing
...Why? That's all I want to
know...Why?
THELMA
(how to say this)
Ted, Joanna and I used to talk a
lot and...well, she told me a lot
of...ah, things about the two of
you.
TED
(instantly nervous)
Things? What kind of things?
THELMA
(clearly she knows
more than she's
willing to say)
I mean...things. Ted, Joanna's
very unhappy and--
TED
(flash of anger)
Listen, Joanna Kramer's got a
goddamn good life. She's got a
husband that loves her. She's
got a terrific kid. She's got
a wonderful home--
THELMA
(getting mad herself)
What d'you know about how Joanna
felt? You went off to an office
every morning and you'd come
dragging home at seven or eight
every night and as long as dinner
was on the table you thought
everything was swell.
TED
Did it ever occur to you guys
that Joanna Kramer's not the
easiest person in the world to
live with?! Did it?! For one
thing she's always thirty minutes
late. You can set your watch
by it--
THELMA
(exasperated)
So she's late. What's the big
deal. That's just a way of saying,
"Pay attention to me."
TED
(not listening)
Two. She is getting to be a real
hermit or recluse or whatever it
is you call it. Thelma, do
you know where I could be in
this business if I had a wife
that entertained or went out
socially--
THELMA
Oh for shit's sake, Ted, you are
the most selfish human being I
have ever met. No wonder she
said you came first, then Billy,
then, if there was anything left
over, she got the scraps.
TED
Joanna said that?
Thelma nods.
TED
Then how come she never said
anything like that to me?
THELMA
Maybe she didn't feel like she
should have to. Maybe she
felt like if you'd been paying
any real attention to her to
start with, maybe you would've
noticed.
TED
(stung)
Boy, you guys are really something,
y'know? I'd like to know one
thing, okay--just one little
thing. Did you tell Joanna
she should leave me?
THELMA
(stiffly)
No.
She turns and starts toward the front door, Ted at
her heel.
TED
Y'know something Thelma--you are
the typhoid Mary of divorce.
I mean it. Joanna and I never
had any trouble until you and
Charley split up.
THELMA
Ted, divorce is a terrible thing.
I know, I went through it.
You've got to believe I did
everything I could to get Joanna
to stay.
(pause)
But I'll tell you something.
You may not want to hear it,
but it took a lot of courage
for Joanna to do what she just
did.
TED
I'd like to know what the hell
kind of courage it takes to walk
out on your husband and your child?
CLOSE ON THELMA--That stops her dead in her tracks.
She had always assumed that Joanna took Billy with her
when she left.
THELMA
Joanna left Billy? She didn't
take him with her?
Ted shakes his head. There is a long beat of silence.
THELMA
(stunned, quiet)
Oh Shit.
CUT TO:
FADE IN:
22 EXT. KRAMER APT. BLDG. - EARLY MORNING
WIDE SHOT--It is a beautiful sunny morning and the
super stands in front of the building hosing down the
sidewalk. HOLD as a garbage truck enters FRAME and the
garbage men begin loading sacks of trash into the back
of the truck. As it begins to grind up the garbage with
an ungodly sound, THE CAMERA PANS UP TO THE EIGHTH
FLOOR WINDOWS.
CUT TO:
23 INT. BILLY KRAMER'S BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING
MED. SHOT--Billy Kramer lies in his bed, fast asleep.
HOLD FOR A BEAT as we HEAR:
O.S. Sound: From the street below, the garbage truck
grinding up garbage.
A moment later, Billy opens his eyes, struggles to his
feet and, AS THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH HIM, trudges
sleepily out of his room, across the hall and into
the bathroom.
24 INT. BATHROOM - EARLY MORNING
As the child stands in front of the toilet, eyes closed,
we HEAR:
O.S. Sound-effect: as the child pees noisily.
Then, when he is finished, he turns and, without bother-
ing to flush the toilet, shuffles down the hall and
into his parents' bedroom.
25 HIS P.O.V.: The bed is empty, there is no sign
that anyone has slept in it.
ON BILLY--a look of suspicion on his face, he turns and
starts back down the hall toward the living room.
26 INT. LIVING ROOM - EARLY MORNING
As Billy enters, looks around.
HIS P.O.V.: Ted Kramer, still fully dressed, looking
like the wrath of God is asleep in the chair.
ON BILLY--as he marches across to his father.
BILLY
Where's mommy?
ON TED--His eyes open, he looks around startled.
TED
Huh?...Oh God...What time is it?
CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN THEM:
BILLY
(suspicious)
The little hand is on the six and
the big hand is on the nine.
Where is mommy?
TED
(trying to pull
himself together)
Oh, Christ...Ah, yeah...you want
to know why mom's not here, right?
Billy nods.
TED
(bullshit)
Okay, I'm going to tell you...
It's like this. Mommy and daddy
had a little argument and mommy
decided she wanted to go off by
herself for a little while. You
know how sometimes you get mad
and want to go off and be by
yourself? Well, it's like that,
okay? Okay.
(subject closed)
Now how about some breakfast?
Ted struggles to his feet and THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH
THEM as they start toward the kitchen.
BILLY
When is mommy coming back?
TED
(lying)
Soon. Very soon.
By now they are inside the kitchen, Ted looks around.
27 HIS P.O.V.: There, on the kitchen cabinet is a
box of "natural grain" cereal, a jar of honey, some
wheat germ, and a banana, with carefully written
instructions from Joanna underneath.
ON TED--He takes one look at the note, crumples it
up and tosses it in the wastebasket.
TED
(the camp counselor)
I'll tell you what, kiddo--why
don't I fix us some French toast?
BILLY
(impressed)
Wow! French toast, really?
TED
(the camp counselor)
Sure. Didn't I ever tell you
French toast was my specialty?
I'll bet I never told you that.
Now then, the first thing we
need is...
(trying desperately
to remember)
... eggs! Right?
Billy nods. Ted opens the refrigerator and takes some
eggs.
TED
This is terrific ... isn't this
terrific?
As Ted begins the process of making French toast, it
soon becomes obvious that he has no idea of what he is
doing. What follows is a symphony in incompetence on
Ted's part. He breaks the eggs into a bowl and ends up
with most of the shell mixed up with the egg. Then he
takes a piece of bread and drops it into bowl.
TED
(saying it will
make it so)
I'm having a good time...Are you
having a good time?
ON BILLY--watching all of this with increasing
apprehension.
BILLY
You forgot the milk.
TED
(still the camp
counselor)
That's right. You're absolutely
right...It's been a long time
since I made French toast.
Ted takes a container of milk, pours it into the bowl
so that it is filled to the brim. Then he sloshes the
bread around until it is half-dissolved.
TED
Look at this, isn't this
something?!
He lops off a huge hunk of butter, drops it into an
omelet pan and turns up the flame.
ON BILLY--watching. He looks as though he is about to
throw up.
BILLY
What about my orange juice?
TED
(the counterman)
Right. One O.J. coming up.
He opens the refrigerator and starts to get the orange
juice. As he does, black smoke begins to billow
ominously from the frying pan.
BILLY
(scared)
Daddy!!!
Ted turns, spots the smoke.
TED
Don't worry.. .Everything's
fine...
He lunges for the handle of the frying pan, which by
now is very hot. He grabs it, lets out a howl of pain
and the whole mess, frying pan, butter, bread, goes
crashing to the floor.
CLOSE ON TED--Suddenly all the rage comes pouring out.
TED
Goddam! Son of a bitch!
REACTION, BILLY--terrified.
WIDE SHOT--as Ted kneels down and begins to clean up
the mess.
TED
(to himself as much as
to Billy)
It's okay. It's gonna be okay...
Everything's going to be all
right.
CUT TO:
28 EXT. STREET - DAY
ON A BUS--as it pulls to a stop. The doors open and a
stream of mothers and children get off. Among them
we spot Ted Kramer with Billy. As they start across
the street, Ted reaches down and takes hold of Billy's
hand. The moment they get to the far side, Billy
takes his hand away from Ted's and wipes it on his
pants. Clearly Ted's hands are very sweaty.
CLOSER IN ON THEM: As they start down the block toward
Billy's school.
CLOSER IN ON THEM
BILLY
When is mommy coming back?
TED
Soon. I told you before, very
soon.
BILLY
(nervous)
Will she pick me up after school?
TED
No. If I'm not here, you go
home with Thelma and Kim.
BILLY
What if she forgets?
TED
(weary)
I'll call Thelma and remind her,
okay? Don't worry.
They walk in silence for a few steps, then:
BILLY
But what happens if she's on
her way to school and she gets
runned over by a truck and killed?
What happens them?
Ted looks at Billy in amazement.
WIDE SHOT--as the two of them enter the school and
disappear from view.
CUT TO:
29 INT. OFFICE, TED'S AGENCY- DAY
ON THE ELEVATOR DOORS--as they open and Ted steps out
looking like the wrath of God. THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH
HIM as he crosses the waiting room toward the inner
offices.
ON THE RECEPTIONIST--glancing up as he passes.
RECEPTIONIST
(cheerful)
Congratulations, Mr. Kramer.
ON TED--looking at her like she has lost her mind.
Nevertheless he continues on, passing through swinging
doors into a long corridor lined with secretaries'
desks and offices leading off of it. Suddenly a
younger man rushes up, grabs Ted's hand and starts to
pump it vigorously.
YOUNG MAN
Terrific news, Ted.
Another nut. Ted smiles at the man, humoring him and
continues toward his office. O'Connor appears, throw-
ing his arm around Ted, squeezing him in a bear hug.
O'CONNOR
Hey...Look who was out celebrating
last night.
Suddenly Ted realizes that all these people are con-
gratulating him for getting the Fire and Ice account.
TED
(trying to appear
nonchalant)
Uh, Jim...Can I talk to you?
CUT TO:
30 INT. O'CONNOR'S OFFICE - DAY
Ted and O'Connor sitting across from one another.
O'Connor has just heard the news.
O'CONNOR
Jesus Christ. That's a real
blockbuster.
(shakes his head)
I always figured you guys had
it made.
TED
(morose)
You want to know the real
kicker? The real kicker is,
for the first time in my life--
the first time--I feel like a
loser.
O'Connor nods sympathetically. Actually he is praying
that Ted won't start to cry.
O'CONNOR
(stiff upper lip)
Listen, don't let it get you down.
(doesn't believe
it for a second)
You're going to be fine.
TED
(toujour gai)
Me? I've never been better.
I mean having my wife walk out
on me after seven years of
marriage agrees with me just
fine.
O'CONNOR
Look, Ted, I'm the oldest whore
on the beat, okay? Three
marriages, two divorces...You're
gonna be okay.
TED
(wishful thinking)
I'm going to be okay. The way
I see it, Joanna'll come home,
it's just a matter of time.
O'CONNOR
(emphatically)
She'll be back...
Ted nods in agreement. There is a beat of silence as
both men consider Joanna's imminent return. Then:
O'CONNOR
(trying to be tactful)
But...just in case...I mean,
just on the off chance she doesn't.
What are you going to do about
the kid?
TED
(the wind goes
out of him)
I don't know, Jim. This whole
thing has happened so...Pow--
like that.
O'CONNOR
(a friend having to
say something very
difficult)
Look, it's none of my business,
so you can tell me to butt out,
okay? But if you want my advice,
you'll send Billy away to stay
with relatives for a while. Just
until you get yourself straightened
out.
TED
(doubtfully)
I don't know, Jim...
O'CONNOR
(the Dutch uncle)
Ted, this may sound a little
rough, but we've just landed the
biggest account in the history
of this agency, right? And now
it's up to us--that's you and me
--to deliver the goods. Ted,
you're my main man, and if I
can't depend on you a hundred
and ten percent, twenty-four
hours a day, because you're
worried about a kid with a runny
nose--
TED
Jim, I appreciate what you're
saying. I mean it, but I really
think Joanna's coming back.
ON O'CONNOR--clearly he doesn't believe this.
O'CONNOR
I hope you're right, Ted...I
really hope you're right.
CUT TO:
31 INT. FOYER, KRAMER APT. - DAY
INSERT: TIGHT ON AN ENVELOPE: It is postmarked
Denver, Colorado. The letter is addressed to Billy
Kramer and it is from Joanna.
ON TED--as he rips open the letter.
TED
Billy!
ON BILLY--He sits in the living room watching television,
a chocolate doughnut in one hand and a remote control
device for watching television in the other.
Off-screen Sound: a Saturday morning kiddie program
from the television set.
BILLY
(focused on T.V.)
Uh, huh...
TED
You got a letter from mom.
Instantly, Billy turns down the volume of the
television.
BILLY
(excited)
When is she coming home?!
ON TED--as he starts to read, slowly, carefully, so
that Billy can absorb it.
TED
"My dear, sweet Billy: Mommy has
gone away. Sometimes in the
world daddies go away and mommies
bring up their little boys. But
sometimes a mommy can go away too,
and you have your daddy to bring
you up."
As Ted continues to read, Billy starts turning up the
sound on the television, using the remote control device.
TED
(raising his voice
so he can be heard)
"I have gone away because I must
find some interesting things to
do for myself in the world.
Everybody has to, and so do I.
Being your mommy was one thing,
but there are other things and
this is what I have to do. I
did not get a chance to tell you
this, and that is why I am writing
you now."
By now the volume from the television is so loud that
Ted has to shout to make himself heard over it.
TED
"I will always be your mommy and
I will always love you. I just
won't be your mommy in the house.
But I will be your mommy of the
heart. And I..."
(he looks up, about
to tell the child
to lower the volume)
Billy.
HIS P.O.V.: Billy sits, watching television with an
almost ferocious intensity on his face, doing his best
to block out Ted's voice.
ON TED--He watches his son for a second, then carefully
refolds the letter, puts it away.
TED
(as he reaches across,
turns down the sound
on the T.V.)
It's okay...It's okay. We'll talk
about it some other time.
CUT TO:
32 INT. KITCHEN, KRAMER APT. - LATER THAT DAY
CLOSE ON THELMA--reading Joanna's letter.
THELMA
Oh, God...OhmyGod...
She finishes the letter, looks up at Ted.
THELMA
What are you going to do?
TED
I don't know, Thel...This whole
thing has happened so...Pow,
like that.
THELMA
I mean, what are you going to do
about Billy?
TED
(stiff)
I'm gonna keep him, why?
THELMA
Look, this is nothing personal,
but I don't think you can do it.
TED
Thelma, I've lost my wife, I'm
not losing my child.
THELMA
(backing off)
All right...Okay...But let's
get something straight, right now.
I mean, I'm sorry about what
happened between you and Joanna,
but it's not my problem, understand?
REVERSE ON TED--he nods.
CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN THEM:
THELMA
I'm not going to have you calling
every fifteen minutes just
because you can't find a hot
water bottle, understand?
Ted nods.
THELMA
I've got enough trouble raising
my own kid. I don't need another
one. Got it?
TED
Got it.
THELMA
You're on your own, understand?
TED
I understand.
THELMA
You're sure?
TED
I'm sure.
ON THELMA--a long pause, she looks at him with all the
warmth of a top sergeant facing a raw recruit. Then:
THELMA
All right. Who's Billy's
pediatrician?
ON TED--He hasn't the foggiest idea.
THELMA
(machine-gun delivery)
Ed Davies. 230 East 76th Street.
472-8227. Fifty bucks a house
call, thirty for an office visit.
Write this down: I'm not telling
you twice. What's the nearest
hospital?
ON TED--as he grabs a piece of paper and starts writing
frantically.
TED
Wait a minute! Wait a minute!
THELMA
(not waiting)
Lenox Hill. 77th Street between
Park and Lex. The emergency
number is 327-0800.
TED
Slow down...Slow down...
CUT TO:
33 INT. TED'S BEDROOM - DAY
WIDE SHOT--Ted stands in the middle of the room, sorting
out a huge pile of dirty clothes. Thelma sits on the
edge of the bed, watching.
THELMA
Colors in one pile, white things
in another and shirts in a third.
In the BACKGROUND we SEE the bathroom door as it opens
and Billy Kramer steps out, freshly bathed and wearing
clean clothes.
THELMA
(without looking
around)
Brush the teeth. Hang up the
towel and flush the toilet.
Billy immediately turns on his heels and heads back into
the bathroom.
CUT TO:
33A INT. LIVING ROOM, KRAMER APT. - DAY
CLOSE ON A SILVER CIGARETTE BOX--that is inscribed, "Ted
and Joanna Kramer, Married April 4, 1970." HOLD FOR A
BEAT then Ted's hand reaches into FRAME and picks it up.
MED SHOT TED--as he takes the cigarette box and balances
it on a stack of scrap books, photographs, ash trays,
etc., etc., that he is carrying. He crosses to another
table, picks up a framed photograph of Joanna and Billy
and piles that on top of everything. We realize that
Ted is going through the apartment from top to bottom
and methodically cleaning out every trace of Joanna that
he can find.
CUT TO:
33B EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
ESTABLISHING SHOT
CUT TO:
33C INT. LIVING ROOM, KRAMER APT. - NIGHT
WIDE SHOT--as Ted goes through the room, picking up
Billy's clothes which have been strewn every which way.
THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH HIM as he carries them into
Billy's room.
33D INT. BILLY'S ROOM - NIGHT
Billy is fast asleep, the only light coming from the
night lamp on the dresser. Ted dumps the soiled
clothing in a hamper, hangs up Billy's jacket, then he
neatly folds the boy's sweater and crosses to the dresser.
CLOSER IN ON THE DRESSER--as Ted opens a drawer and
starts to put the sweater away. Suddenly he spots
something.
CUT TO:
HIS P.O.V.: There, in the drawer, sitting on top of a
pile of clothing is one of the photographs of Joanna that
Ted put away this afternoon. Billy has retrieved it and
hidden it here, hoping that Ted wouldn't find it.
CLOSE ON TED--as he takes a long look at the photograph,
then turns to his son.
HIS P.O.V.: Billy asleep, tangled up in the covers.
ON TED--He removes the photograph from the drawer,
crosses to the bed and places it on the nightstand
nearby so that Billy will be able to see the picture
of Joanna when he wakes up in the morning. He sits
for a moment longer on the side of the bed and reaches
across and smooths down his son's rumpled hair.
FADE TO BLACK:
34 INT. TED'S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON
ON TED--clearly in a rush, loading his briefcase with
work to do that evening. He starts for the door and
THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH HIM as he walks along the outer
office corridor, heading for the elevator. As he passes
the door to O'Connor's office:
TED
(calling out)
'Night, Jim.
O'CONNOR (O.S.)
(calling out)
Hey, Ted. C'mon in. I wanna'
talk to you.
Reluctantly Ted stops, turns around and walks back to
the door to O'Connor's office.
CUT TO:
35 INT. O'CONNOR'S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON
O'Connor sits back in his chair, his feet propped on the
desk a drink in one hand.
O'CONNOR
(jovial)
What's the big rush. C'mon in,
put your feet up, have a drink.
REVERSE ON TED--hanging in the doorway, clearly anxious
to leave.
TED
Can't do it tonight. Gotta
pick up Billy. I'm late.
O'CONNOR
(paying no attention
to that)
Listen, I heard a terrific joke
today. There's this Polish
skydiver--
TED
(urgent)
Sorry, Jim I've got to go. I'll
talk to you tomorrow.
And before O'Connor can say anything he is gone.
REVERSE ON O'CONNOR--Obviously displeased. He sits for
a moment, drumming his fingers on the desk top, then
reaches for the phone and starts to dial. A moment
later:
O'CONNOR
Murray? Jim O'Connor, why don't
you drop by and have a drink...
CUT TO:
36 EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - LATE AFTERNOON
WIDE SHOT--as Ted emerges from the building, starts
to hail a cab.
CUT TO:
37 EXT. APARTMENT HOUSE, EAST EIGHTIES -
LATE AFTERNOON
WIDE SHOT--as the cab pulls to a stop. Ted leaps out
and rushes inside.
CUT TO:
33 INT. HALLWAY, APARTMENT BLDG. - LATE AFTERNOON
The elevator doors open and Ted steps out. THE CAMERA
PANS WITH HIM as he crosses to the doorway of an
apartment, rings the bell.
CLOSER IN--as the door is opened by a pleasant-looking
woman in her thirties. This is MRS. KLINE. She has
the slightly haggard look of someone who has just sur-
vived a birthday party with eight five-year-olds. In
fact, behind her we SEE an abundance of crepe paper
and balloons.
TED
(apologetic)
Mrs. Kline, I'm sorry I'm late,
but--
MRS. KLINE
That's all right, but I'm afraid
Billy was a little nervous...
(she glances O.S.)
THEIR P.O.V.: Billy, his coat on, his goody bag in his
lap sits alone on a bench in the foyer.
The moment he sees his father, he gets up and starts
for the door.
BILLY
(to Ted, accusingly)
You're late.
TED
I'm sorry, pal, but I had a
meeting and--
BILLY
(to Mrs. Kline,
anxious to get
away)
Goodbye.
MRS. KLINE
Goodbye, Bill. Thank you for
coming.
(calling out to her
son in the next room)
Mark. Say goodbye to Bill.
MARK (O.S.)
(preoccupied)
Bye.
BILLY
Bye.
And he hustles his father out into the hallway. Once
door is shut behind them:
BILLY
(sullen)
I was waiting a long time.
By now they have crossed to the elevator. Ted rings
the bell.
TED
(this ain't exactly
the greeting he's
expected)
It wasn't so long, I'm only...
(checking his watch)
...twenty minutes late.
The elevator doors open.
BILLY
All the other mothers got here a
long time ago...
And the doors close, blocking them from view.
CUT TO:
39 INT. LIVING ROOM, KRAMER APT. - NIGHT
WIDE SHOT--Ted and Billy sit at the dining table, a
large pizza between them. Ted is working hard, trying
to establish some kind of rapport with his son. Billy
is silent, he picks at the slice of pizza in front of
him.
TED
(more of the camp
counselor)
How was school today?
BILLY
Okay...Same as usual...
TED
Billy, don't eat with your fingers.
BILLY
(morose)
Sorry.
There is a long beat of silence.
TED
(like pulling teeth)
Well, I see the Yankees finally
won a game.
BILLY
Mom, I mean dad?
TED
Yeah?
BILLY
Can I be excused? I'm not hungry.
I think I'll go to bed.
TED
Sure. Too much birthday cake,
right?
BILLY
(as he gets up from
the table)
I guess...
WIDE SHOT--as Billy shuffles off toward his room. Ted
sits for a beat picking at the food on his plate.
THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH BILLY--as he gets up from the
table and
40 walks into his room. HOLD IN THE DOORWAY as he
takes off his shirt and pants and leaves them lying
on the floor. The boy crosses to the closet, gets his
pajamas and puts them on.
REVERSE ON TED--standing in the doorway, watching.
TED
Goodnight.
ON BILLY--He starts to crawl into bed.
BILLY
(aloof)
'Night.
ON TED, THE CAMERA PANS WITH HIM--as he crosses to where
Billy dropped his clothes on the floor, picks them up.
TED
Listen, pal, I'm sorry, okay?
Silence.
TED
I know how you feel.
Silence.
Ted crosses, sits on the edge of the bed.
TED
Look, I remember one time when.
I was a couple of years younger
than you are now and...I was
staying with this cousin of mine
and my parents were supposed to
come and pick me up by three,
but it got later and later and
they didn't and they didn't show
up and I remember I got really
scared that something had happened
to them and I remember when they
finally came instead of being
happy to see them I was very
angry and...Billy, I promise I'll
never do that to you again,
okay?...
Silence.
TED
Billy? Okay?
C.U. BILLY--His face is turned to the wall. HOLD FOR A
BEAT as we SEE him nod.
41 INT. LIVING ROOM, TED KRAMER'S APT. - NIGHT
Note: The following scene, which is written as one,
is actually to be played so that each time we cut back
to the woman who is being interviewed as housekeeper,
it is a different woman: sometimes nervous and ex-
cited, sometimes large and lugubrious, with six shopping
bags, sometimes looking like a headmistress at Dachau.
They are uniformly (until the last) unappetizing.
Throughout this, we SEE Ted becoming increasingly
desperate.
WOMAN
(looking around
nervous)
It's very big...They didn't
tell me it was this big.
TED
(apologetically)
No...No, actually it's only two
bedrooms.
SECOND WOMAN
(sniffing)
Phew...This place is a real
pig sty.
TED
(defensively)
Look, my wife just walked out
on me. Okay? It's been a tough
week.
THIRD WOMAN
Don't tell me your troubles,
mister. I got enough of my own.
42 Note: With the FOURTH WOMAN we begin on a
CLOSE-UP and PULL BACK to REVEAL that we are in
Ted's office and it is the middle of the afternoon.
INT. TED KRAMER'S OFFICE - DAY
FOURTH WOMAN
The first thing is, I don't do
floors.
At that point the door behind her opens and O'Connor
pokes his head in.
O'CONNOR
Ted.
FOURTH WOMAN
(ignoring him)
Or windows. I come in at ten and
I get Wednesdays off.
O'CONNOR
Ted.
TED
(brisk)
I'll be with you in a minute,
Jim.
(back to the woman)
You couldn't make that Saturday,
could you?
CUT TO:
43 INT. LIVING ROOM, KRAMER APT. - NIGHT
ON THE FIFTH WOMAN (MRS. WILLEWSKA)--She is a slightly
built attractive woman in her early sixties. There is
a long pause as she looks around.
MRS. WILLEWSKA
What kind of boy is your son?
REACTION TED--This is the first person that ever asked
about Billy.
TED
(taken aback)
Well, he's...ah, he's a good kid.
He's shy and...I think he's
probably very creative and...
MRS. WILLEWSKA
Could I see him?
TED
Sure. He's right in here.
As they start toward the child's room.
CUT TO:
44 INT. BILLY'S ROOM - NIGHT
In the darkness we can SEE Billy, all scrunched up in
the covers. HOLD FOR A BEAT as the door opens and the
light from the hall falls across the sleeping boy.
ON THE DOOR--Ted and Mrs. Willewska stand silhouetted
against the light.
MRS. WILLEWSKA
Oh,...He's very beautiful.
ON BILLY--as he stirs, in his sleep.
MRS. WILLEWSKA (O.S.)
Mr. Kramer, you are a very lucky
man.
REACTION, TED--This is the first time since Joanna left
that this has occurred to him.
TED
Mrs. Willewska, could you start
on Monday?
CUT TO:
45 INT. SUPERMARKET - DAY
ON BILLY AND TED, TRACKING JUST IN FRONT OF THEM--as they
wheel a shopping cart along the aisle. Ted has a
shopping list in his hand.
Ted stops, takes a box of detergent off of the shelf,
starts to put it in the shopping cart, when:
BILLY
(worried)
Mom, I mean dad...
TED
(his mind elsewhere)
Uh huh...
BILLY
That's not the right soap. We
use the kind in the green and
yellow box.
TED
C'mon, there's not much difference--
BILLY
(firmly)
We use the green and yellow.
Ted looks at his son for a moment, then carefully
replaces the detergent that he had originally picked
and reaches for the green and yellow kind. They continue
on for several steps and Ted stops again, this time
looking for a dishwashing liquid. He starts to reach
for one, stops, looks around at Billy.
Billy shakes his head.
Ted points to another.
BILLY
(shaking his head
again)
The pink stuff.
Ted takes a bottle of the pink stuff, puts it in the
shopping cart and consults his shopping list.
TED
Okay, what color cereal do we
get?
CUT TO:
46 EXT. PLAYGROUND, CENTRAL PARK - DAY
WIDE SHOT--It is that same afternoon and Billy (his
clothes are much dirtier by now) is running back and
forth with a group of other children.
MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
Walk him over to Bethesda Fountain
and buy him an ice.
ON TED--He sits on one of the playground benches, the
work he took from the office stacked beside him on the
bench. Sitting next to him is a personable-looking man
of about Ted's age. He is nattily dressed in a suit
complete with vest, tie and polished Gucci loafers.
We will call him THE SATURDAY FATHER.
Note: The Saturday Father and his daughter (a pretty
young girl of about ten) will appear from time to time
throughout the film. He is a divorced father, putting
in his time, not giving a shit about the child. The
Saturday Father insists on treating Ted as though they
were members of the same secret fraternity. And he
comes to represent Ted's nightmare of what might happen
to him.
TED
(looking in the
direction of the
voice)
What?
SATURDAY FATHER
Walk him over to Bethesda Fountain,
buy him an ice. It'll kill
twenty minutes.
TED
I've got a lot more than twenty
minutes to kill.
SATURDAY FATHER
Tough...
(checking his watch)
...I get off duty at five-thirty.
(bored, anxious to
make conversation)
How long you been divorced?
TED
(surprised)
Three months. How can you tell?
SATURDAY FATHER
You've got that look. My lady
and I split two years ago in
August and I'm an old pro at
this shit. First thing, stay away
from the Children's Zoo. It's
pure hell--if I never see another
chicken, I'll be happy.
(calling out to his
daughter O.S.)
I'm here, darling. Don't worry...
CLOSER ON TED--finding this distinctly unpleasant.
He glances around, looking for Billy.
HIS P.O.V.: The sprinkler area. Other children are
running around, but there is no sign of Billy.
TED
(calling out)
Billy?
HIS P.O.V.: Another area of the playground. Billy is
nowhere in sight.
WIDER ON TED--as he grabs his stuff and starts toward
the exit of the playground.
TED
(louder)
Billy?
HIS P.O.V.: Looking in another direction. Nothing.
WIDE ON TED--standing among a crowd of people just out-
side the entrance to the playground. He is looking
around wildly.
TED
Billy?!
HIS P.O.V.: There in the distance is Billy Kramer,
running as hard as he can away from Ted.
ON TED, TRACKING IN FRONT OF HIM--as he starts to chase
after Billy.
HIS P.O.V.: TRACKING FORWARD--It is clear that Billy
is running with a purpose.
TED (V.O.)
Billy!
Billy pays no attention to him.
ON TED, TRACKING IN FRONT OF HIM--as he continues to
chase his son.
HIS P.O.V.: TRACKING FORWARD--Closer now, we can SEE
that ahead of Billy is a woman that, from behind, looks
remarkably like Joanna.
CLOSER ON TED--as he realizes what is about to happen.
CLOSER ON BILLY--catching up to the woman.
BILLY
Mommy! Mommy!
A moment later he gets close enough to grab onto her
skirt. As the woman turns around:
C.U. WOMAN--quite clearly it is not Joanna.
CLOSE UP BILLY--His face becomes impassive again. All
the excitement vanishes.
BILLY
Oh. I thought you were my mommy.
C.U. TED--His face reveals all of the pain that
Billy's can't.
CUT TO:
47 INT. CLASSROOM, NURSERY SCHOOL - DAY
CLOSE ON A HOMEMADE CURTAIN--as it opens and Billy
Kramer, wearing an outsized moustache, a makeshift cape
and a stovepipe hat made from construction paper. He
stands for a moment, looking around, finally he spots
someone, grins and begins waving.
HIS P.O.V.: across the room eighteen to twenty
mothers (Ted Kramer is the only man present) are gathered,
sitting on tiny chairs and at work tables watching as
their children put on a show.
ON BILLY--Suddenly he forgets his lines, looks around
nervously. A moment later a very pretty young teacher
leans over, whispers in his ear.
TEACHER
Ladies and gentlemen...
BILLY
Ladies and gentlemen...
TEACHER
Welcome to the greatest show on
earth.
BILLY
Welcome to the...
(he forgets again)
REVERSE ON TED--He leans forward mouthing the words as
the teacher prompts Billy.
TEACHER
Greatest.
BILLY
Greatest...
TEACHER
Show.
BILLY
Show...
TEACHER
On earth.
BILLY
On earth.
Ted breathes a sigh of relief, his son having gotten
through it.
CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN THE CHILDREN PUTTING ON THE SHOW
AND TED KRAMER SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE WATCHING--A look
of total pleasure on his face. From time to time when
Billy does something particularly difficult, Ted nudges
the woman next to him.
Note: In all of the shots of Billy we SEE the teacher
there guiding, helping, over and over and over we cannot
help but notice how attractive she is. Toward the end
of the show Ted's P.O.V. occasionally follows the teacher
rather than the child.
DISSOLVE TO:
WIDE SHOT--The show is over and the parents and children
mill around eating popcorn, drinking lemonade from paper
cups. Ted stands off to one side, talking to the teacher
as Billy runs around.
CLOSER IN ON THEM:
TEACHER
Mr. Kramer, I just wanted to tell
you what a wonderful boy your son
is.
TED
(clearly attracted
to her)
I don't know...I've been worried...
(glancing around,
making sure Billy
is out of earshot)
I mean, with what he's been through
and everything. I--
TEACHER
(solicitously)
No...No...Billy is doing just fine.
TED
(giving himself
a few points)
Well, you know it's not easy
raising a kid on your own and
I thought if we could get
together and, uh, discuss--
At that moment one of the class mothers interrupts,
reaches across Ted and takes hold of the teacher's hand.
WOMAN
(effusive)
Barbara! Congratulations! When
is the baby due?
TEACHER (BARBARA)
Oh, God. Not 'til August.
CLOSE ON TED--inadvertently glancing at the teacher's
stomach, nothing shows.
ON THE TEACHER--as she turns back to Ted.
TEACHER
Excuse me. You said you wanted
to talk, Mr. Kramer.
TED
(embarrassed)
Yes, but...ah, not now...
(checking his watch)
I've got an appointment...I forgot
all about it...
As Ted begins beating a hasty retreat,
CUT TO:
48 EXT. STREET - DAY
ON TED, TRACKING IN FRONT OF HIM--as he walks down the
street carrying a large and elaborate papier mache art
thing that Billy made in school.
CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN TED AND HIS POV, as he manages to
notice every single pretty girl that passes, thread his
way through the crowd and still balance Billy's enormous
work of art.
CUT TO:
49 INT. AGENCY - DAY
ON THE ELEVATOR DOORS--as they open, Ted squeezes off
and AS THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH HIM, he crosses the
waiting room and enters the offices proper. He pauses
at his secretary's desk and deposits Billy's papier mache
thing. She jumps up from her desk, takes the papier
mache thing and her notebook in hand, and follows Ted
as he walks down the corridor towards O'Connor's office.
SECRETARY
Mr. O'Connor called. There's a
meeting with the Revlon people
in the board room and you're
fifteen minutes late.
TED
(in a rush)
I know....I know.
SECRETARY
Mr. Schmidt can't have the figures
on the television buy until Monday.
TED
No. Uh, uh. Tell him I asked for
it Friday. I want it Friday.
Period.
SECRETARY
Mr. Lombardo from packaging wants
to meet on Friday.
TED
Fine.
50 By now they have reached the board room. He
enters without knocking, his secretary still in tow.
SECRETARY
And Mrs. Kelsey called to ask
if Billy can come to Stephanie's
birthday party on Tuesday.
CUT TO:
50 INT. BOARD ROOM - DAY
The room is filled with executives in three piece suits
and O'Connor who is doing a lot of backing and filling.
TED
(as he enters)
Yes. Remind me to pick up a
"Crying Chrissie" doll at lunch
on Tuesday.
ON O'CONNOR--Clearly he is very irritated at this.
O'CONNOR
(sardonic)
If it's all right with you, Mother
Kramer, can we get down to work
now?
CUT TO:
51 INT. PHYLLIS BERNARD'S OFFICE - DAY
It is a real mess, legal files and law books scattered
everywhere. In the midst of all this chaos sits PHYLLIS
BERNARD, as we said before, she is about thirty, very
pretty in spite of her glasses.
ON PHYLLIS--She looks up as Ted enters. It is clear
from their attitude that they have known one another for
a long time and are very relaxed together.
PHYLLIS
Hello, Kramer.
ON TED--He drops into a chair and shoves a stack of
papers across the desk to her.
TED
Hiya, Phyllis. These are the
Revlon contracts. I thought
you ought to check them out.
PHYLLIS
Sure.
She takes the papers and starts to rifle through them,
stopping every so often and making a note in the margin.
As she does, we notice that the second and third buttons
of her blouse have come undone and that she is not wearing
a bra.
CLOSER ON TED--as he realizes this.
ON PHYLLIS--She glances up to ask Ted a question about
some point or other, notices the direction of his gaze
and, unselfconsciously buttons up her blouse.
She goes back to her papers as Ted continues to watch her.
ON PHYLLIS--not looking up from her papers.
PHYLLIS
Yes.
TED
(baffled)
Yes, what?
PHYLLIS
(looks up, serious)
Yes, I'll have dinner with you.
CUT TO:
52 INT. TED KRAMER'S BEDROOM - LATE AT NIGHT
ON THE BED--Although the room is dimly lit, we can SEE
quite clearly that Ted and Phyllis are in bed together.
They have finished making love and Ted lies back, half
asleep. Phyllis reaches across to the nightstand, puts
on her glasses and checks her watch.
PHYLLIS
Kramer, I've got to go. I've got
an eight o'clock closing tomorrow
down on Centre Street.
TED
(half asleep)
Mmmmnph...I'll get you a cab...
But he makes no move to get up.
Phyllis gets to her feet and in the dim light we can SEE
that, except for her glasses, she is naked.
PHYLLIS
(as she crosses the
hall on the way to
the bathroom)
That's okay. It's just that I've
got these clients that are--
CUT TO:
53 INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
There is Billy Kramer, standing by the toilet, buttoning
his pajamas. He looks up at Phyllis.
His P.O.V.: There stands Phyllis, naked as the day she
was born, a look of stunned amazement on her face.
PHYLLIS
(softly to herself)
Oh, God.
Too startled to cover herself.
ON BILLY--He looks her up and down, then:
BILLY
(very serious)
Do you like fried chicken?
ON PHYLLIS--suddenly remembering to cover herself.
PHYLLIS
(hoping desperately
it is the right answer)
Ah.. .Yes.
SHOT--Phyllis and Billy.
BILLY
So do I...
And he shuffles off to bed. Phyllis waits, frozen until
he disappears into his room. Then, she turns and flees
back into the bedroom.
CUT TO:
54 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
ON PHYLLIS--as she bursts into the room, closes the door
behind her, leans against it.
PHYLLIS
(eyes wide)
I just met your son.
ON TED--who has leapt out of bed and is scrambling into
his pants.
TED
Like that?!
Phyllis nods.
TED
And?
PHYLLIS
He wanted to know if I liked
fried chicken.
TED
Do you?
Phyllis nods rather frantically.
TED
(grinning)
So what's your problem?
CUT TO:
55 INT. KITCHEN, KRAMER APT. - EVENING
ON TED AND THELMA--stand side by side. He is cutting,
chopping, making some kind of stew. Thelma stands
nearby watching, sipping a glass of white wine.
FROM O.S. we can hear Billy and Kim running around,
playing.
TED
You ever think about getting
married again?
THELMA
No, not really...
(she thinks for
a moment, then:)
I guess it's different if you
don't have children, but...I
dunno, even if Charley and I
don't live together, even if
we're sleeping with other people,
even if Charley was to marry
again...He'd still be my husband.
That stuff about "Till death do
you part?" That's really true.
TED
(nodding toward a
cookbook that is
propped open nearby)
How many onions does it say to
use?
THELMA
(without bothering
to look in the book)
Three. And add some basil.
TED
(as he does)
D'you think you and Charley'll
ever get back together again?
THELMA
No. I don't think so.
TED
C'mon, Thel. So Charley had a
little fling. So what? All in
all he was a pretty good husband.
THELMA
Look, I know this isn't gonna
make any sense, okay? I mean
forget the logic part...But I
keep thinking if Charley really
loved me, he wouldn't have let
me divorce him.
CUT TO:
56 EXT. CENTRAL PARK - DAY
WIDE SHOT--The Saturday Father and his daughter, clearly
with nothing to say to one another, stand eating ices
from a nearby vendor. THE CAMERA PANS AWAY FROM THEM
across to Billy, Ted and Phyllis. She is dressed in a
very nice suit, silk blouse, high heeled shoes and looks
distinctly out of place in Central Park on a Saturday
afternoon.
At the moment, Ted is trying to teach Billy how to bat.
TED
Now look, you hold it like this...
(he places Billy's hands
on the bat just so)
...and you swing like this...
(taking him through
the motions)
ON PHYLLIS--watching. She can't believe what she's
seeing. Finally, she can't stand it any longer.
PHYLLIS
(impatient)
No, no, no, Kramer. That's not
how you do it. Look....
She crosses to Billy, gently takes the bat from him and
demonstrates.
PHYLLIS
...you hold it like this...
(showing him her grip)
Farther down the bat. And you
swing like this...
(to Ted)
Throw me one.
ON TED--as he gives Billy a look that says, we have to
humor her. He throws a ball.
ON PHYLLIS--as she swings, connects and slams a ball in
a long, looping fly that goes at least two hundred feet.
ON TED--watching the ball disappear in the distance,
he turns back to Phyllis, open-mouthed.
CLOSE ON PHYLLIS--Embarrassed, she grins, shrugs and
hands the bat back to Billy.
CUT TO:
57 INT. O'CONNOR'S OFFICE - DAY
WIDE SHOT--O'Connor, Murray and the Art Director are
in O'Connor's office as the door opens and Ted enters,
carrying a pile of papers, charts, graphs, etc., etc.
TED
Okay, Jim. Here's the report
on.
He stops in mid-sentence, looks around.
HIS P.O.V.: On the walls are a series of mock-ups of
the various Fire and Ice ads, none of which are what
Ted and O'Connor had agreed upon.
TED
(surprised)
What the hell is this?
O'CONNOR
(innocent)
Murray had some ideas about the
Fire and Ice campaign and he had
the art department make up a
few roughs...
(weakly)
I think they're kind of interesting.
TED
(bugged)
I don't. Jim, this isn't
anything like what we talked
about. It's not even close.
MURRAY
(oily)
Ted, basically it's still your
concept.
O'CONNOR
(chiming in)
Murray just added a few things,
that's all.
TED
Now hold it right there, I'm
the one that went in and sold
Revlon on this idea to start
with, remember? You said I
was going to be--
Sound-effect: the phone rings.
O'Connor picks it up.
ON TED
O 'CONNOR
Yeah?
He listens for a moment, then hands the phone to Ted.
O'CONNOR
It's for you.
ON TED--as he takes the receiver.
TED
(puzzled)
Yes?
Then, embarrassed, he turns his back and lowers his
voice.
TED
Look, Billy, I told you before,
one hour of T.V. a day, that's
the rule...No...
(clearly, Billy is
giving him an
argument)
I don't care what the other
mothers do...Listen, I can't
talk now, I'm in a meeting...
(firm)
Billy, I'll talk to you later,
good-bye.
Note: during the phone call, the CAMERA PANS AWAY TO
MURRAY & O'CONNOR, looks of bored condescension and smug
superiority on their faces.
Ted hangs up the phone and turns back around.
MURRAY
(smooth)
Ted, I appreciate what you're
saying, but I really think you're
just too close to it right now.
O'CONNOR
(quickly)
Murray's right.
(reassuring)
Look it's just some ideas, okay?
I mean nothing's locked in cement.
I promise you this is your show...
ON TED--Not very reassured.
O'CONNOR
Trust me on this one, Ted...
CUT TO:
58 INT. LIVING ROOM, KRAMER APT. - NIGHT
Ted is sitting at the dining room table, working.
Spread out all across the table are layouts, rate
sheets, etc., etc. Billy sits across from him draw-
ing on a pad with felt-tipped pens. HOLD FOR A BEAT,
then:
BILLY
(worried about some-
thing)
Mom, I mean dad...
TED
(busy)
In a minute...
A beat of silence then:
BILLY
What do you do when an elephant
sits on your fence?
Silence.
BILLY
You get a new fence.
TED
(he hasn't heard a
word)
C'mon, Billy. I'm trying to
work for God's sake...
Another beat of silence, then Billy reaches for his
glass of Hawaiian Punch and accidentally tips it over,
spilling purple liquid across all of Ted's papers.
Instantly, Ted is on his feet, yelling.
TED
Goddamnit, can't you watch what
you're doing!
CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN THEM:
BILLY
(quiet)
I'm sorry.
TED
Je-sus Christ! I catch all kind
of shit at the office because
I'm not pulling my weight
because I'm busting my butt
trying to be a decent goddamn
father and--
BILLY
I'm sorry.
TED
(sardonic)
That's terrific. That's really
terrific, but I notice I'm the
one that's cleaning up this--
(noticing an
important paper
covered with
grape juice)
Oh, crap, I'll have to do this
one over.
BILLY
(starting to help)
I'm sorry.
By now there is nothing the boy can do right.
TED
Look, it's after your bedtime,
okay? Just do me a favor and
go to bed, okay?
Billy gets to his feet, collects his stuff and
59 walks into his bedroom. HOLD ON TED who sits
for a moment, then gets wearily to his feet and
as THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH HIM crosses to the door of
Billy's room. He stops in the doorway, looks O.S.
HIS P.O.V.: Billy struggling to get his pajamas on,
having a hard time.
CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN THEM
TED
Look, I'm sorry I yelled, okay?
BILLY
(quiet)
That's okay.
TED
It's just...I've been catching
a lot of flack at the office...
BILLY
That's okay...
60 INT. OFFICE - DAY
ON THE DOOR TO O'CONNOR'S OFFICE--as it opens and
Phyllis comes out. In the B.G. in O'Connor's office
we SEE O'Connor and Murray, talking, laughing. THE
CAMERA TRACKS ALONGSIDE PHYLLIS as she walks to Ted
Kramer's office and opens the door without knocking.
PHYLLIS
How about lunch, Kramer. I'm
buying.
CUT TO:
61 INT. RESTAURANT, MIDTOWN - DAY
ON TED AND PHYLLIS--as they sit across from one another.
A waiter stands over them, setting drinks in front of
them.
WAITER
Perrier and lime...
(placing a drink
in front of Phyllis)
...and scotch with soda.
(putting Ted's drink
in front of him)
The waiter bustles away.
TED
Okay, Phyllis, what's up?
PHYLLIS
Kramer...
She breaks off, uncertain whether or not to go on.
Then, making up her mind, she reaches across, takes
Ted's scotch and soda and drinks half of it down in
one gulp.
PHYLLIS
(in a rush)
O'Connor's out to get you. He's
going to take the Fire and Ice
account away from you.
TED
(stunned)
What?!?
Phyllis nods.
TED
(angry)
I don't believe it! That's
crazy! Why would Jim do something
like that?
Phyllis polishes off the rest of Ted's drink.
PHYLLIS
(angry herself)
You want to know why? I'll tell
you why...
(signaling to
the waiter)
Another scotch and soda for
the gentleman.
(back to Ted)
I'll tell you exactly why.
Because you're not his buddy
anymore. Because he can't
count on you to sit around the
office every night until eight
or nine and shoot the shit with
him.
TED
I can't. I've got Billy to
take care of.
PHYLLIS
(exasperated)
You dope. O'Connor doesn't
give a damn about Billy. All
he wants is somebody that'll
hang around with him every night
so he won't have to go home.
TED
(stiff)
I don't believe you.
The waiter sets Ted's drink on the table in front of him.
He starts to reach for it, but Phyllis is quicker.
PHYLLIS
(taking a stiff drink)
All right. Okay. But tell me
something, Kramer. Who do you
think is palling around with
O'Connor these days?
Ted shrugs.
TED
How should I know?
PHYLLIS
Murray.
REACTION, TED--stunned, but trying to be nonchalant.
TED
So...what's so terrible about
that?
PHYLLIS
(would like to take
him by the shoulders
and shake him until
his teeth rattle)
Oh, for God's sake, Kramer.
You have got to be the world's
most naive human being.
(leaning forward)
Murray has gone in and changed
every single ad you've done on
the entire Fire and Ice campaign.
Every layout...Every idea...Every
single thing, right down the line.
TED
No. No, I don't believe it.
Jim O'Connor would never let
anything like that happen. He
gave me my shot in this business.
If it wasn't for Jim O'Connor I'd
be--I don't know where I'd be.
He's a wonderful man...
PHYLLIS
(apologetic for
having upset Ted)
Kramer, I'm sorry. All I was
trying to do was--
TED
(cutting her off)
I don't want to hear another
word against him. Not another
word. He's a wonderful man
...a wonderful man...
CUT TO:
62 INT. TED KRAMER'S OFFICE - DAY
INSERT: The finished proof of the ad that Murray had
done, that Ted had seen in O'Connor's office.
ON TED, TRACKING WITH HIM as he steams out of his door
and marches along the corridor to O'Connor's office.
SECRETARY
(as Ted brushes past her)
I'm sorry, Mr. O'Connor is in
conference.
But it is too late. Ted barrels into O'Connor's office
without bothering to knock.
CUT TO:
63 INT. O'CONNOR'S OFFICE - DAY
O'Connor is alone in the office. He looks up startled
as Ted comes barging in.
TED
(furious)
All right, Jim. You said I was
running this show, right? You
said no decisions without my
approval, right?
(brandishing the ad)
Well what the hell is this?
What's going on, Jim?
O'CONNOR
(embarrassed)
Well, ah...I thought it over and
I decided we're doing it Murray's
way.
TED
Jim, this is garbage. This isn't
anything like what we talked
to Revlon about. None of it.
You can't--
O'CONNOR
(tough)
That's my decision, Ted and that's
final.
CUT TO:
64 INT. DINING AREA, KRAMER APT. - NIGHT
ON BILLY--who sits looking down at the plate of food in
front of him as though it was a coiled rattlesnake about
to strike.
BILLY
What is it?
ON TED--preoccupied, jumpy. He is eating, but he
doesn't taste a thing.
TED
Salisbury steak.
BILLY
I hate it.
TED
You don't hate it. We had
Salisbury steak last week
and you liked it fine.
BILLY
(stubborn)
No I didn't. I hate the brown
stuff. It's gross.
TED
(strained patience)
All it is is onions and gravy.
BILLY
I'm allergic to onions.
TED
You are not allergic of onions.
You've had them lots of times.
BILLY
(sullen)
I want a pizza.
TED
(trying not to lose
patience)
No. This is fine. Just take
a bite, you'll like it fine.
Reluctantly, Billy takes a tiny bite. He barely puts
it in his mouth before he spits it out with a great
show of being physically ill.
BILLY
I think I'm going to throw up.
TED
(getting pissed off)
Oh, for God's sake...Here.
He reaches across and scrapes most of the sauce off of
the meat.
TED
There, okay? Now that's just
plain old hamburger.
BILLY
Some of the brown stuff is still
there.
TED
(through clenched
teeth)
Then eat around it.
BILLY
No.
TED
(anger building)
Now listen to me, young man.
Do you know what I had to go
through to put this goddamn
food on the goddamn table?
BILLY
(obstinate)
I don't care. I hate it. I
want pizza.
TED
(blowing up)
Not on your life. That's it.
I've had it with crap around
this house. From now on, no more
pizza! Get it? Starting right
now you can eat real food like
a normal human being!
BILLY
No!
By now both of them are out of control.
TED
You want to know something?!
You are a spoiled selfish little
brat! Now eat--
Billy takes his plate and looking his father straight
in the eye deliberately overturns it, spilling food
everywhere.
ON TED--He is out of his chair like a shot, crosses to
Billy and jerks him to his feet.
TED
(yelling)
Goddamnit! Go to your room!
He half-carries, half-drags the child kicking and
screaming into his room. THE CAMERA TRACKS ALONGSIDE
THEM.
BILLY
(at the top of his
voice)
Owwww...You're hurting me...
You're hurting me...I hate you
...I hate you...
TED
(seething)
You're no bargain either, pal.
BILLY
I want my mommy...I want my
mommy..
65 By now they have reached Billy's room. Ted dumps
him on the bed unceremoniously and starts out of
the room.
BILLY
(sobbing)
I want my...mm...ommy...I want
mmmy...mommy...
TED
(at the door)
Tough shit. You're stuck with
me.
And he slams the door behind him.
CUT TO:
66 WIDE SHOT--the dining area. Ted sits down
and tries to resume his meal alone.
BILLY (O.S.)
(sobbing, fighting
to catch his breath)
I want my...mmmo...mmmy. I want
mmmy mmo...mmy...
CLOSER IN ON TED--as he lifts his glass to take a
drink and we can SEE that he is shaking like a leaf.
CUT TO:
67 INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
ON TED--as he finishes doing the last of the dishes,
dries his hands and looks around to make sure that
everything has been put away. He flips off the light
and, as THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH HIM, he walks from room
to room, turning off the lights, until he reaches the
door to Billy's room which is still closed. Ted
hesitates for a moment, then eases open the door and
steps inside.
CUT TO:
68 INT. BILLY'S ROOM - NIGHT
TED'S P.O.V.: Billy lies sprawled across the bed, all
tangled up in the covers.
ON TED--as he crosses to the sleeping child and starts
to straighten the covers.
BILLY
(tentatively)
Daddy?
TED
(all anger gone)
Yeah?
BILLY
I'm sorry...
TED
(kisses him)
That's okay, pal. Go back to
sleep. It's very late.
He starts to get up, when:
BILLY
Daddy?
TED
Uh huh?
BILLY
(very quiet)
Are you...gonna go...away?
ON TED--stunned at the question.
TED
Of course I'm not going away.
I love you very much. I'll
be right here.
There is a beat of silence, then:
BILLY
(it comes pouring
out)
That's why mommy left...isn't
it? 'Cause I was bad...
The boy begins to weep.
TED
(he puts his arm
around Billy and
holds him close)
Oh, Christ...Oh, Christ...
(he thinks for
a moment, then:)
No, pal. Your mom loves you
very much. The reason she left
didn't have anything to do with
you.
(pause, this is
very painful)
Look, I don't know if this will
make any sense to you, okay?
But I'll try and explain. You
see the reason your mom left
was because...Well, I guess it
was because I kept trying to
make her into a certain kind of
person...Make her be the way I
thought a wife was supposed to
be. Only she wasn't like that.
She was...
(smiles to himself)
Well, she wasn't like that. And
now, when I think about it, I
can see she tried very hard to
be like I wanted--very hard.
And when she couldn't, then
she tried to tell me about it.
Only I wouldn't listen. I guess
I thought that if I was happy,
that meant she was happy too.
Only she wasn't. The truth is,
the only reason she didn't leave
a lot sooner was because she loves
you so much. Joanna stayed until
she couldn't stand me any longer
and then she left...But it wasn't
you, pal. It wasn't you.
There is a long beat of silence as Billy thinks about
this. Clearly an enormous burden has been lifted from
his shoulders. Finally:
BILLY
Is mom ever coming back?
TED
You mean for good?
Billy nods.
TED
I don't think so.
BILLY
(thoughtfully)
Oh...
Ted gets to his feet, starts for the door.
TED
Now go to sleep. It's very late.
BILLY
Good night.
TED
Sleep tight.
BILLY
Don't let the bedbugs bite.
TED
See you in the morning light.
BILLY
Dad?
Ted pauses in the doorway, smiles.
TED
Yes?
BILLY
I love you...
CUT TO:
69 EXT. CENTRAL PARK - DAY
A SERIES OF TRACKING SHOTS--as Ted runs along beside
Billy, who is learning to ride a bike. Then, in the
last shot, Ted lets go of the bike and runs along just
behind. Slowly as Billy gains confidence he speeds up,
leaving Ted farther and farther behind. Finally, as
Billy glances over his shoulders.
CUT TO:
TED'S P.O.V.: As the boy, by now a considerable distance
away, turns and waves.
ON TED--Waving back, a grin of enormous pride on his
face. He glances around, embarrassed to make sure no
one is watching and wipes tears from his eyes.
CUT TO:
70 EXT. STREET - DAY
ON A BUS--as it pulls to a stop and a mob of mothers
and children get off. Among them we spot Billy and
Ted Kramer. THE CAMERA PANS WITH THEM as they cross
the street and enter the school building. THE CAMERA
CONTINUES IT'S PAN across the street, to a Coffee Shop
with large plate glass windows facing the school.
There, standing in the window, watching, is Joanna
Kramer. HOLD As THE CAMERA SLOWLY ZOOMS IN ON HER and
we SEE a look of overwhelming pain on her face.
CUT TO:
71 EXT. PLAYGROUND, CENTRAL PARK - AFTERNOON
ON TED AND THELMA--sitting on a bench, the area around
them is stacked high with toys that the kids have
brought with them to the park.
O.S. we can HEAR Billy and Kim racing around, playing.
TED
(a little too casual)
Thel, you ever hear from Joanna?
THELMA
(also with deliberate
nonchalance)
Not for a couple of months.
The last time I heard from her
she was living in San Francisco.
TED
(surprised)
California?
THELMA
(watching him)
Uh, huh...She said she had a
good job, was playing a lot of
tennis. She wanted to know
all about Billy.
There is a beat of silence, then:
TED
(the real question)
She ever ask about me?
THELMA
(lying)
Uh, huh...Yeah...
TED
What d'you tell her?
THELMA
I told her you're doing a
pretty good job.
BILLY (O.S.)
Daddy! Daddy!
Ted glances around:
HIS P.O.V.: Billy and Kim are standing near the jungle
Jim. Billy has a toy airplane in his hand.
BILLY
Daddy, look! Presenting Billy
Kramer's Fantastic Superjet!
And he begins to race around the area, making jet
noises and holding the airplane in his hand.
REVERSE ON TED--watching him, smiling.
ON BILLY--weaving in and around the benches. He
turns and starts back towards Ted. As he does:
QUICK CUT: INSERT: Billy's foot, as he trips.
ON BILLY--as he starts to fall, still holding onto the
airplane.
QUICK CUT, TED--watching, horrified.
ON BILLY--as he hits the concrete.
ON TED--He leaps to his feet, starts toward the boy.
ON BILLY--as he looks up.
JUMP CUT IN, TO EXTREME CLOSE UP--There is a terrible-
looking gash running from his cheek into his hairline.
Kim screams at the sight of the blood.
BILLY
(terrified)
Daddy!
CUT TO:
72 EXT. ENTRANCE TO CENTRAL PARK - AFTERNOON
ON THE ENTRANCE--as Ted, carrying Billy, wrapped in his
coat, comes barreling out of the park, nearly knocking
over several people with shopping bags, and begins
running like hell WITH THE CAMERA TRACKING JUST IN
FRONT OF HIM. In the B.G. we SEE Thelma and Kim chasing
after him. THE LENGTH OF THE TRACKING SHOT SHOULD BE
MUCH LONGER THAN WE EXPECT. IT SHOULD, IN FACT, COVER
THE THREE CITY BLOCKS BETWEEN THE KRAMER APARTMENT AND
THE HOSPITAL, ACROSS STREETS WITHOUT STOPPING FOR THE
LIGHT, ALONG CROWDED SIDEWALKS WITHOUT STOPPING, ENDING
FINALLY ON THE EMERGENCY ENTRANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. IT
MUST BE GENUINELY SUPERHUMAN, GENUINELY HEROIC.
CUT TO:
73 INT. EXAMINATION ROOM, EMERGENCY SECTION,
HOSPITAL - DAY
ON TED KRAMER--He is covered with Billy's blood, it is
on his face, his shirt, his trousers. At the moment 'he
stands helpless, watching as, Off-Screen, a surgeon
examines Billy's wound.
SURGEON (O.S.)
(calm, reassuring)
That's good, Billy...That's a
brave boy...Now then, how's that?
Now we've cleaned it out...
WIDER SHOT--Billy lies on the examining table with the
doctor bending over him.
SURGEON
There. That wasn't so bad, was
it?
Billy doesn't say anything.
SURGEON
Now then, you just wait here,
Billy. I want to talk to your
dad for a minute.
The doctor motions for Thelma to wait with Billy and he
crosses to Ted who stands in the doorway.
CLOSER IN ON THEN
SURGEON
(low voice, again calm
and reassuring)
Your boy is very lucky, Mr.
Kramer. One inch over and it
would have caught the eye.
REACTION TED
SURGEON
But I'm going to have to take
some stitches.
TED
(flat)
How many?
SURGEON
Ten.
Ted closes his eyes, there is a sharp intake of breath.
SURGEON
Because of the position of the
wound and your son's age, I
don't think there will be much
of a scar. Otherwise I'd call in
a plastic surgeon.
Ted nods.
SURGEON
Now, I'd advise you to wait
outside. It'll be eas--
TED
(like a shot)
No.
SURGEON
(reasonable)
Mr. Kramer, there's--
TED
(softly, but with
real vehemence)
Fuck you. He's my son. I'm
staying with him.
CUT TO:
CLOSE ON TED--He holds his son tightly while the doctor
stitches up the boy's wound. From THIS CAMERA ANGLE
we can SEE Ted's face, but only the back of Billy's
head. Although we do not see the stitches being made,
we do SEE the doctor's hand, with the needle and
surgical thread as it moves into and out of view with
a slow, steady rhythm. Billy's hand clutches Ted's so
tightly that the knuckles are white.
BILLY
(softly, as each
stitch is taken)
Ohhh...Ohhhh...Ohhhhh...
TED
(whispering to his
child)
It's okay, son...I'm here...
Just a little more to go...
Don't worry, son...I'm here...
FADE TO BLACK:
74 EXT. KRAMER APT. BLDG. - NIGHT
WIDE SHOT--It is late, only a few lights are still on.
CUT TO:
75 INT. BILLY'S ROOM - NIGHT
ON BILLY--He lies in bed, fast asleep, his head swathed
in bandages. THE CAMERA PANS AWAY FROM HIM across to
Ted, who sits in a nearby rocking chair, watching his
son. HOLD FOR A BEAT, then Ted gets to his feet, walks
quietly to the door and steps out into the hall, closing
the door behind him.
CUT TO:
76 INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
WIDE SHOT--Thelma having washed and dried the dishes is
now wiping off the top of the counter top, more to keep
busy than anything else. She looks around as Ted enters.
THELMA
How is he?
REVERSE ON TED--standing in the doorway. He hasn't
changed his clothes and he is still covered with blood.
TED
(nods)
He's okay...Thel, can I ask you
a favor?
THELMA
Sure.
TED
I don't mean a little favor.
mean a big F favor.
Thelma nods. She watches Ted closely. He doesn't look
at her.
TED
Thelma, if I die--
THELMA
(aghast)
What?
TED
(quickly)
I didn't say I'm going to die,
but if I should--
THELMA
(deeply upset)
Don't say that! I don't want to
hear you say that!
TED
(firmly)
Thel, listen to me. If, on the
million to one shot that I
should--
(correcting himself)
That anything should happen to
me. Would you take care of
Billy?
THELMA
(amazed)
Me?! You want me to take care
of Billy?!
TED
I thought about it a lot and
you're the only person I know
that I trust with him. I mean,
if anything happened to me,
he'd be okay with you. You're
a good mother.
Silence. Thelma looks away from him.
TED
(hastily)
I know it's not an easy thing to
answer.
Silence. She still cannot look at him.
TED
Look, if it's too much
responsibility--
Thelma nods, unable to speak.
TED
You're sure?
She nods again.
TED
Thank you, Thel. Thank you
very much.
CUT TO:
77 INT. BILLY'S ROOM - EARLY MORNING
MED. SHOT ON BILLY--as he lies in bed asleep. Some time
has passed and Billy's bandage is much smaller. HOLD ON
HIM as we HEAR
O.S. Sound: From the street below, the regular six-
forty-five garbage truck that serves as Billy's alarm
clock.
HOLD ON BILLY as he wakes up, struggles to his feet.
THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH HIM as, eyes closed, he stumbles
into the bathroom, pees, and still not remembering to
flush the toilet walks into the bedroom and wakes his
father. As the child turns and walks toward the
kitchen, THE CAMERA HOLDS ON TED. He heaves himself
to his feet and, eyes closed, in much the same manner
as his son, stumbles into the bathroom. He automatically
flushes the toilet without bothering to look, walks
into the living room, opens the front door and picks
up the paper. As he starts into the kitchen, he meets
Billy coming the other way carrying two plates, a
doughnut on each.
THE CAMERA NOW TRACKS WITH BILLY as he walks into the
living room, carefully sets the plates on the dining
table, crosses to the television set, and turns it on.
He returns to the table, and sits down as Ted appears
carrying two glasses of orange juice and vitamins. He
takes a seat in the chair opposite Billy and opens his
paper and starts to read.
HOLD ON THEM as they sit without talking, eating their
breakfast--the only sound, a children's cartoon program
coming from the T.V. From time to time Ted glances up
from his paper to look across at the cartoon.
HOLD ON THEM as we SEE that they have become roommates
in the best sense of the word.
78 EXT. TED'S OFFICE BLDG. MIDTOWN - DAY
WIDE SHOT--It is a gray, cloudy day in mid-November.
Snow is falling.
Sound-effect: a telephone ringing. Then:
TED'S VOICE
Hello?
JOANNA'S VOICE
Ted?
TED'S VOICE
Joanna?
CUT TO:
79 INT. RESTAURANT, ISLE OF CAPRI - NIGHT
ON THE DOOR--as Ted enters, looks around. The Maitre
d'hotel approaches. From his attitude, it is clear
that Ted and Joanna were regular customers.
MAITRE D'HOTEL
Good evening, Mr. Kramer. We
haven't seen you for a long time.
Mrs. Kramer, she waits for you
in the back.
TED
Thank you, John.
THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH TED as he walks toward the back
room of the restaurant. Several waiters approach and
say hello, the piano player looks up and smiles. As
he reaches the door to the back room.
CUT TO:
80 INT. BACK ROOM
TED'S P.O.V., JOANNA: She sits against the wall, a
glass of white wine in front of her. She is dressed
simply and no longer has a tan. Nevertheless, Joanna
is still stunningly beautiful. HOLD ON HER FOR A BEAT
as she looks up, smiles.
ON TED--He stands watching her, his knees weak. It is
impossible not to fall in love with her all over again.
TWO SHOT--as he crosses to her table, sits down.
JOANNA
Hello, Ted. You look well.
TED
So do you.
The waiter appears, carrying a scotch and soda. He
sets it down on the table in front of Ted.
WAITER
The usual, Mr. Kramer.
TED
(not taking his eyes
off Joanna)
Thanks, Gino.
The waiter nods and promptly disappears.
JOANNA
How's the new job?
TED
Fine.
There is a self-conscious pause. From the bar, the
piano player begins playing a new song. From Ted and
Joanna's reaction, it is clearly a song that has meant
a great deal to them in the past. They listen for a
moment, then:
TED
Look at us, Joanna. Just like
any old married couple having
dinner. Who would believe it.
JOANNA
Yes...How's Billy?
ON TED--The question he has been dreading.
TED
He's great...except...
(not looking at
her)
...Except he had...he fell and
he cut his face. He...He has a
scar, Joanna, from about here to
here.
(indicating where
and how big)
There is a beat of silence. A moment of shared feeling.
TED
(he has to say it
to someone)
I can't help but feel somehow...
it's my fault. I keep thinking
I could've done something--
stopped it...
JOANNA
You can't tell it from a distance,
Ted.
For the first time he looks up at her.
TED
What?
CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN THEM
JO