Kramer vs. Kramer Page #14

SHAUNESSY'S VOICE

(amazed)

How the hell are you going to do

that?

TED:

(grim)

I don't know.

89 INT. INTERVIEW ROOM, EMPLOYMENT AGENCY - DAY

WIDE SHOT--The same young man sits across the desk from

Ted.

INTERVIEWER:

(smirk)

Mis-ter Kramer, as I mentioned

yesterday, this is a very bad

time of year to look for work.

Now I'm sure we'll have something

for you by mid-February, March

at the latest.

CLOSE ON TED--leaning forward, impatient.

TED:

I need a job, now.

CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN THEM--The interviewer gives Ted a

weary look. Then he starts to flip through the card

file.

INTERVIEWER:

(going through the

motions)

No...No...No...

Finally he pauses at one card, pulls it out.

INTERVIEWER:

(doubtfully)

There might be something at J.

Walter Thompson. But...

(shaking his head)

...I don't think they're really

serious. The position's been

open for two months and...

(shrugs)

They may just be on a fishing

expedition.

(cheerful)

I'm sure you'll be much happier

if you wait until after the

first--

TED:

(checking his

watch)

Call up the people at J. Walter

Thompson. Set up an appointment

at four.

INTERVIEWER:

(politeness strained

almost to the breaking

point)

Mis-ter Kramer, it's...

(checking his watch)

...almost four now. It's the

Friday before Christmas. Nobody

is going to want to--

TED:

(leaning forward,

tough as nails)

Either you call and set up the

appointment, or I'll call. And

if I call, you lose the

commission.

INTERVIEWER:

(arch)

My, we are a hot shot aren't we?

Ted is already on his feet and halfway out the door.

TED:

You bet your ass.

CUT TO:

90 INT. OFFICE ADVERTISING MANAGER, J. WALTER

THOMPSON - LATE AFTERNOON

It is dark outside and the lights are on in the office.

From beyond the door, we can hear the sounds of a

Christmas office party in full swing.

ON JACK ACKERMAN--The advertising manager. A balding

man in his mid-forties, he wears a suit, complete with

vest. At the moment he sits behind his desk listening

to Ted's spiel, from time to time he glances at the

resume on the desk in front of him.

TED (O.S.)

So, Mr. Ackerman, as you can see

from my resume, my experience in

setting up the leisure package

concept means that I've spent a

lot of time working along the

same lines as your multiple buys

and your regional advertising

ideas. I know the pitfalls, but

--and this is more important--I

know the potential revenue for

the company inherent in these

programs.

ON TED--as he finishes. He sits back, pleased with

himself.

CROSS-CUTTING BETWEEN THEM

ACKERMAN:

Well, Mr. Kramer, I must say this

has been very impressive. I'd

like to think about it and

get back to you.

TED:

(leaning forward)

Mr. Ackerman, is there anyone

else that I should see before

you come to a decision.

ACKERMAN:

Mr. Spencer, our Advertising

Director.

TED:

(no time to waste)

Could I see him right away?

ACKERMAN:

(taken aback)

I'm sorry, but he's leaving this

evening for a two-week vacation.

I'll set up something the moment

he gets back.

He gets to his feet, starts to shake Ted's hand, ready

to end the interview.

TED:

I'd like to see him now--before

he leaves.

ACKERMAN:

Mr. Kramer, I don't think--

TED:

(means it)

I want this position very much.

Ackerman gives Ted a long, considered look, then:

ACKERMAN:

Wait here.

He turns and goes out the door.

CUT TO:

91 INT. OUTER OFFICE, J. WALTER THOMPSON -

LATE AFTERNOON:

The large room is crowded with secretaries, junior

executives, researchers, editors, ad-men, etc., etc.

They all have drinks in their hands and there is a good

deal of kissing and general conviviality going on.

THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH ACKERMAN as he steps out of his

office, closes the door behind him and makes his way

across the room to MR. SPENCER, the Advertising Director.

At the moment, Spencer stands with his coat over one

arm and a drink in his hand talking to a very pretty

young woman. Ackerman approaches him, whispers some-

thing in his ear. Spencer shakes his head and points

to his watch. Ackerman says something else and finally,

with a look of weary resignation, Spencer excuses him-

self from the pretty young woman and follows Ackerman

back to his office. THE CAMERA FOLLOWS THEM. As

Ackerman opens the door to his office, THE CAMERA IS

ANGLED so that we can SEE past them, into the office

where Ted stands waiting.

ACKERMAN:

(as they enter)

Mr. Spencer, Mr. Kramer.

SPENCER:

(not wasting any time)

So you're the go-getter. All

right, you've got ten minutes.

As the door closes behind them, blocking our view, THE

CAMERA PANS UP to a clock over the door. It reads

five-fifteen.

MATCH DISSOLVE TO:

92 INT. ACKERMAN'S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON

ON A CLOCK--which now reads five twenty-two. THE CAMERA

PULLS BACK TO REVEAL Spencer, now sitting in Ackerman's

chair, his feet on Ackerman's desk. Ted has just

finished his pitch.

SPENCER:

(sipping his drink)

That's very interesting, Mr.

Kramer. I must say, it's very

interesting. Let me think about

it. I'll let Jack...

(indicating Ackerman)

...know and he'll get in touch

with you.

Spencer gets to his feet, starts to retrieve his coat.

ON TED--as he decides to take a gamble.

TED:

Excuse me, I believe you said

I had ten minutes.

ON SPENCER--almost at the door, looking around.

SPENCER:

Well?

ON TED--checking his watch.

TED:

That means I've got two minutes

left. I understand you're paying

twenty-five.

Spencer nods.

TED:

(a deep breath, then

a real huckster)

All right, I'll tell you what

I'm gonna do--I'll take the job

at twenty-two-five. Now, that's

twenty-five hundred less than

you're offering. The only thing

is, you have to say yes right

now. Not tomorrow. Not next

week. Not after the holidays.

It's worth it to me for a

yes right now and I'll take

twenty-five hundred less.

There is a long beat of silence as Spencer and Ackerman

look at one another. They were clearly not prepared

for this.

TED:

(watching them)

Today only. One day only.

Twenty-two five.

SPENCER:

Mr. Kramer, can we talk privately

for a moment?

TED:

Certainly.

CUT TO:

93 OUTER OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON

ON TED--as he steps out of Ackerman's office, sits down.

Now, all of the fear, all of the anxiety that he has

been fighting down comes welling up. What if he pushed

too hard? What will he do if he doesn't get a job?

If Ted Kramer could fall to his knees and pray, he

would.

CROSS-CUT WITH THE CHRISTMAS PARTY-- that swirls around

him. We notice in particular, one very pretty young

woman flirting with a number of men. She is wearing

a dress with straps, one of them has broken and she

has patched it with a piece of masking tape.

Finally the door to Ackerman's office opens and he

steps out.

ACKERMAN:

Mr. Kramer?

Ted jumps to his feet, starts into the office.

CUT TO:

94 INT. ACKERMAN'S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON

ON SPENCER--He looks at Ted carefully for a long time,

then:

SPENCER:

(grins)

Welcome aboard, Mr. Kramer.

C.U. TED--There is an instant of relief, then, with

astounding cool:

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