Kramer vs. Kramer Page #11

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)

F*** 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.

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