Kramer vs. Kramer Page #13

TED:

(leaning forward,

intense)

Look, she walked out on her own

child, right? That's desertion,

right? Mr. Shaunessy, I'm

telling you it's an open and

shut case.

SHAUNESSY:

First, there's no such thing

as an open and shut case.

Especially where custody is

involved. Got it?

Ted nods.

SHAUNESSY:

Second, the burden is on us to

prove your ex-wife is an unfit

mother. That means I'm going to

have to play rough and, if I

play rough, you can bet they

will too. Can you take that,

Mr. Kramer?

Ted nods.

SHAUNESSY:

Third, it'll cost you five

thousand dollars.

REACTION TED--That's an astronomical amount of money

to him.

SHAUNESSY:

That's if we win. If we lose,

you could end up having to pay

your wife's court costs as well.

TED:

(determined)

Fine.

SHAUNESSY:

Good. You've hired yourself

a hell of a lawyer, Mr. Kramer.

(down to business)

How old is the child?

TED:

Six.

ON SHAUNESSY--He shakes his head.

SHAUNESSY:

That's tough. In most cases

involving a child that young,

the court tends to side with

the mother.

ON TED--agitated. This is not what he wanted to hear.

TED:

But she signed over custody.

Here...

He digs in his pockets, pulls out a piece of paper and

thrusts it at the lawyer.

SHAUNESSY:

(glancing at it)

I'm not saying we don't have a

shot, but it won't be easy...

(thinks for a moment)

Mr. Kramer, do me a favor. There

is something I find very helpful

in matters like this. I sit

down and make a list of all the

pros and cons on an issue.

I actually write them down and

look at them. I want you to

do that, okay? Then, after

that, if you're really sure you

want to retain custody of

your child--then we'll go in

there and whip their asses.

CUT TO:

82 INT. LIVING ROOM, KRAMER APT. - LATE AT NIGHT

WIDE SHOT--Ted sits at the dining table, the supper

dishes have been pushed aside. He has a legal pad in

front of him and is writing. THE CAMERA DOLLIES IN

CLOSER.

INSERT, TED'S P.O.V.: The legal pad. On one side

Ted has written "Pro" and on the other, "Con." Under-

neath "Con" Ted has written a long list of the draw-

backs involved in keeping Billy: Sex Life, Money,

Possibility of Remarriage, Sleep, Emotional Dependence.

The "Pro" side of the list is empty.

ON TED--He sits for a moment, staring at the list, then

he crumples the paper, gets to his feet.

CUT TO:

83 INT. BILLY'S ROOM - NIGHT

ON THE DOOR--as Ted enters. He crosses to Billy's

bed where the child is fast asleep, sits down on the

edge, and starts to rub the child's back.

TED:

I love you Billy Kramer.

BILLY:

(half-asleep)

I love you too daddy.

Ted kisses the child, gets to his feet and starts

toward the door.

TED:

Sleep tight. Don't let the

bedbugs bite...

BILLY:

(almost asleep again)

See you in the morning light...

CUT TO:

84 - OMIT

87

88 INT. O'CONNOR'S OFFICE - DAY

WIDE SHOT--O'Connor stands with his back to Ted, looking

out the window. From the beginning this is clearly an

awkward and unpleasant moment.

O'CONNOR

(scared to do what he

is about to do)

Look, ah...Ted. I just got word

from the guys at Revlon and...ah

they did some marketing tests on

our campaign and the results were...

CLOSE ON TED:
Hold on him listening as it slowly dawns

on him that he is being fired.

O'CONNOR

(stiff)

Disappointing. It only pulled a

fourteen share and they were

hoping for a twenty-five minimum,

and...ah...they're not very happy

and...Well, the guys have decided

they want to...ah, re-think the

entire concept and...Look, I don't

like having to do this, okay?...

But...I mean, what I mean is...ah,

I'm going to have to...ah, let you

go--

TED:

(not really sure he

heard right)

Are you firing me, Jim?

ON O'CONNOR--He still has his back to Ted.

O'CONNOR

C'mon, Ted, don't get emotional.

Okay?

(whining)

Look, this isn't exactly an easy

thing for me to do, y'know? I

swear Murray and I did everything

we could, but those sons of b*tches

were out for blood. I mean it was

all I could do to keep the account

inside the shop... Look, I promise,

if I hear of anything I'll let you

know first thing. Ted, I want--

O'Connor looks around.

O'CONNOR

Ted?...

HIS POV:
The room is empty, the door stands open and

Ted is gone.

O'CONNOR'S VOICE

Ted?...

CUT TO:

88A INT. TED'S OFFICE - DAY

WIDE SHOT--as Ted grabs a picture of Billy from his desk,

takes his jacket and coat and stalks out the door.

CUT TO:

88B EXT. STREET - DAY

TRACKING ALONGSIDE TED--as he walks along the street in

a state of total shock. Behind him, in the windows of

expensive stores we note Christmas decorations.

CUT TO:

88C INT. INTERVIEW ROOM, EMPLOYMENT AGENCY - DAY

WIDE SHOT--Ted sits across from the interviewer, a

polished young man in his middle twenties, very

efficient, he sounds a bit like a tape recording.

INTERVIEWER:

(glancing at a form

Ted has filled out)

Ummm, hmmm... umm, hmmm...

(the good news)

Well, this looks very good.. Of

course

(the bad news)

... you understand this is the

worst time of the year to look

for a job.

TED:

(panic)

What?! What do you mean, I don't

understand.

INTERVIEWER:

(patronizing)

Mr. Kramer, nobody even thinks

about leaving their job until

after they get their Christmas

bonus.

TED:

Look, you don't understand. I

need a job. I've got a kid and--

INTERVIEWER:

(smooth)

I understand and I'm absolutely

sure something wonderful will

turn up....

(ending any further

discussion)

...after the first of the year.

CUT TO:

88D EXT. STREET - DAY

ON A TELEPHONE BOOTH--Ted stands inside, talking on the

phone. AS THE CAMERA DOLLIES IN CLOSER, he hangs up

the receiver and takes the employment section of the New

York Times which is filled with listings he has circled

and crosses off one. He goes on to the next, takes a

dime from the stack on the shelf in front of him and

starts to dial.

CUT TO:

88E EXT. TED KRAMER'S APT. HOUSE - EVENING

ESTABLISHING SHOT

CUT TO:

88F INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

ON TED--who stands at the sink doing the last of the

dishes. A dishtowel is tucked into his belt, serving

as an apron. HOLD ON HIM as we HEAR:

Sound-effect:
the phone ringing.

Ted wipes his hands, picks up the phone.

TED:

Uh, huh?

SECRETARY'S VOICE

(from the phone)

Mr. Kramer? Please hold for Mr.

Shaunessy...

Then, a moment later:

SHAUNESSY'S VOICE

Ted? They've set the court date.

I just heard today...It's...

(checking his notes)

January sixth.

TED:

(despair)

Oh, Christ.. .John, there's some-

thing I ought to tell you. My...

ah, situation has...changed. I

lost my job.

There is a long pause, too long.

TED:

John?

SHAUNESSY'S VOICE

(thoughtfully)

Ted, I won't lie to you, we don't

have a hope in hell of winning a

custody hearing if you're out of

work.

Ted doubles over the phone like he has been hit in the

stomach.

TED:

(softly, but with

real feeling)

Good Christ, Joanna, just get the

hell out of my life.

SHAUNESSY'S VOICE

Ted? Are you there?

TED:

Yeah.

SHAUNESSY'S VOICE

Any prospects?

TED:

(trying to make

himself believe it)

Don't worry. I plan to have

something within twenty-four

hours, John.

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