Kramer vs. Kramer Page #17

WIDE SHOT--as Gressen(Joanna's lawyer) gets to his feet.

GRESSEN:

Your honor. As our first witness

I would like to call Joanna Kramer.

TWO SHOT, TED AND SHAUNESSY--The lawyer leans across

to Ted.

SHAUNESSY:

(stage whisper)

Real direct. Motherhood...

They're going right for the

throat.

WIDE SHOT--as Joanna gets to her feet, crosses to the

witness stand and is sworn in.

Note:
Throughout the following, we continually CROSS-

CUT to Ted Kramer, leaning forward, listening intently.

It becomes evident that, in spite of himself, there are

moments he feels great compassion for Joanna.

GRESSEN:

Now then, Mrs. Kramer, would

you tell the court how long you

were married?

JOANNA:

Six years.

GRESSEN:

And would you describe those

years as happy?

JOANNA:

The first couple, yes, but after

that it became increasingly

difficult.

GRESSEN:

Mrs. Kramer, did you ever work

in a job while you were married

to your ex-husband?

JOANNA:

No, I did not.

GRESSEN:

Did you wish to?

JOANNA:

Yes. I tried to talk to Ted--

my ex-husband--about it, but he

wouldn't listen. He refuses to

discuss it in any serious way.

I remember one time he said I

probably couldn't get a job that

would pay enough to hire a baby-

sitter for Billy.

GRESSEN:

Tell me, Mrs. Kramer, are you

employed at the present time?

JOANNA:

Yes, I work for Jantzen as a

sportswear designer.

GRESSEN:

And what is your present salary?

JOANNA:

I make thirty-one thousand

dollars a year.

REACTION TED--stunned.

GRESSEN:

(switching tactics)

Mrs. Kramer, do you love your

child?

JOANNA:

(emphatically)

Yes. Very much.

GRESSEN:

And yet you chose to leave him?

There is a long pause, then:

JOANNA:

(speaking carefully,

with great thought)

Yes...Look, during the last

five years we were married, I

had...I was getting more and

more...unhappy, more and more

frustrated. I needed to talk to

somebody. I needed to find out if

it was me, if I was going crazy

or what. But every time I

turned to Ted--my ex-husband,

he couldn't handle it. He

became very...I don't know,

very threatened. I mean, when-

ever I would bring up anything

he would act like it was some kind

of personal attack. Anyway, we

became more and more separate

...more and more isolated from

one another. Finally, I had no

other choice, I had to leave.

And because of my ex-husband's

attitude--his unwillingness to

deal with my feelings, I had

come to have almost no self-

esteem...

(with feeling)

At the time I left, I sincerely

believed that there was something

wrong with me--that my son would

be better off without me. It

was only when I got to California

and started into therapy I began

to realize I wasn't a terrible

person. And that just because

I needed some creative and

emotional outlet other than my

child, that didn't make me unfit

to be a mother.

GRESSEN:

(to the judge)

Your honor, I would like to place

in evidence a report on Mrs.

Kramer's therapy by her therapist,

Dr. Elinore Freedman of La Jolla,

California.

And with that he hands both the judge and Shaunessy a

thick sheaf of papers. Then, turning his attention back

to Joanna:

GRESSEN:

Mr. Kramer, why did you set up

residence in New York?

JOANNA:

Because my son is here. And his

father is here. As a mother,

I don't want my child to be

separated from his father.

GRESSEN:

Mrs. Kramer, can you tell the

court why you are asking for

custody?

There is a pause, then:

JOANNA:

Because he's my child...Because

I love him. I know I left my

son, I know that's a terrible

thing to do. Believe me, I

have to live with that every

day of my life. But just because

I'm a woman, don't I have a right

to the same hopes and dreams as a

man? Don't I have a right to a

life of my own? Is that so awful?

Is my pain any less just because

I'm a woman? Are my feelings

any cheaper? I left my child--

I know there is no excuse for

that. But since then, I have

gotten help. I have worked hard

to become a whole human being.

I don't think I should be punished

for that. I don't think my son

should be punished for that.

Billy's only six. He needs me.

I'm not saying he doesn't need

his father, but he needs me

more. I'm his mother.

There is a beat of silence, then:

GRESSEN:

Thank you, Mrs. Kramer. I have

no further questions.

ON SHAUNESSY--as he stands, collects his papers from

the table and, taking his own sweet time, crosses to

Joanna.

SHAUNESSY:

Now then, Mrs. Kramer, you said

you were married seven years.

Is that correct?

JOANNA:

Yes.

SHAUNESSY:

In all that time did your husband

ever strike you or abuse you

physically in any way.

JOANNA:

No.

SHAUNESSY:

Did your husband strike or

physically abuse his child in

any way?

JOANNA:

No.

SHAUNESSY:

Would you describe your husband

as an alcoholic?

JOANNA:

No.

SHAUNESSY:

A heavy drinker?

JOANNA:

No.

SHAUNESSY:

Was he unfaithful?

JOANNA:

No.

SHAUNESSY:

Did he ever fail to provide for

you?

JOANNA:

No.

SHAUNESSY:

(wry smile)

Well, I can certainly understand

why you left him.

GRESSEN:

Objection.

SHAUNESSY:

(switching his line of

questioning)

How long do you plan to live in

New York, Mrs. Kramer?

JOANNA:

Permanently.

Note:
During the early part of Shaunessy's cross-

examination, Joanna has been very forthright, very sure

of herself. Now, as he starts getting tougher, she

begins to falter.

SHAUNESSY:

Permanently?

(smiles, like a

shark smiles)

Mrs. Kramer, how many boy friends

have you had--permanently?

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

JOANNA:

I don't recall.

SHAUNESSY:

(boring in)

How many lovers have you had--

permanently?

JOANNA:

(looks toward Gressen

for help)

I don't recall.

SHAUNESSY:

More than three, less than thirty-

three--permanently?

ON GRESSEN--He is again on his feet, outraged.

GRESSEN:

Objection!

JUDGE:

Overruled. The witness will

answer, please.

JOANNA:

(almost a whisper)

Somewhere in between.

SHAUNESSY:

Do you have a lover now?

GRESSEN:

(furious)

Objection!

SHAUNESSY:

(to the judge)

Your honor, I would request a

direct answer to a direct

question. Does she have a

lover?

JUDGE:

I'll allow that. The witness

will answer please.

JOANNA:

(in a whisper)

Yes.

SHAUNESSY:

Is that...permanent?

JOANNA:

(by now she is be-

coming thoroughly

rattled)

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

SHAUNESSY:

Then, we don't really know, do

we, when you say "permanently"

if you're planning to remain in

New York, or even to keep the

child for that matter, since

you've never really done anything

in your life that was continuing,

stable, that could be regarded

as permanent.

ON THE PETITIONER'S TABLE--Gressen jumps to his feet.

GRESSEN:

Objection! I must ask that the

counsel be prevented from harassing

the witness.

JUDGE:

Sustained.

SHAUNESSY:

(a new attack)

Mrs. Kramer, how can you consider

yourself a fit mother when you

have been a failure at virtually

every relationship you have

undertaken as an adult?

GRESSEN:

(red in the face)

Objection!

JUDGE:

Sustained.

SHAUNESSY:

I'll ask it another way. What was

the longest personal relationship

you have had in your life--other

than parents and girlfriends?

JOANNA:

(rattled)

Ah...I guess I'd have to say...

with my child.

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