Kramer vs. Kramer Page #20

TED:

(grim)

What if I fight it?

SHAUNESSY:

(matter of factly)

We can appeal, but I can't guarantee

anything.

TED:

(determined)

I'll take my chances.

SHAUNESSY:

It's going to cost.

TED:

(his mind is made up)

Don't worry. I'll get the money.

There is a beat of silence, then:

SHAUNESSY:

I've got to tell you something,

Ted. This time it'll be Billy

that pays. This time I'll have

to put him on the stand.

CLOSE ON TED--as his last hope goes crashing to the

ground.

TED:

Oh, Christ no...I can't do that.

I just...can't...

(he looks up at the

lawyer in despair)

Excuse me...I'm sorry...I just...

That is all Ted can manage to say. He gets to his feet

and rushes for the door.

CUT TO:

125 EXT. KRAMER APT. BLDG. - DAY

ON THE ENTRANCE--as Mrs. Willewska comes out. Her eyes

are red from crying. THE CAMERA PANS WITH HER as she

turns up the street on her way to pick up Billy from

school. THE CAMERA HOLDS IN POSITION as she meets

Thelma. They stand talking for a moment, then Thelma

turns and starts to run toward the building.

CUT TO:

126 INT. HALLWAY, OUTSIDE TED'S APT. - DAY

ON THE ELEVATOR DOORS--They open and Thelma steps out.

She runs to the door, begins to knock.

THELMA:

(calling out)

Ted!...It's me...Ted?...

There is a beat of silence, then:

TED (0.5.)

(very quiet)

Please go away, Thel...I...I

just have to be by myself for

a little while...

THELMA:

Ted, I just heard...

TED (O.S.)

Please, Thel...

Thelma leans against the door and begins to sob.

THELMA:

I'm so...sorry...Oh, Ted, I'm

so sorry...

FADE TO BLACK:

FADE IN:

127 EXT. KRAMER APT. BLDG. - DAY

WIDE SHOT--as Mrs. Willewska brings Billy back from school.

CUT TO:

128 INT. KRAMER APT. - DAY

ON THE FRONT DOOR--It opens and Billy and Mrs. Willewska

enter. Billy sees Ted and rushes across to him.

BILLY:

(excited)

Daddy! You're home early. Did

you get fired again?

TED:

(laughing in spite

of himself)

No, son, I didn't get fired.

(fake cheerful)

I'll tell you what we'll do,

okay? How about if we go to a

Burger King and then we watch a

little T.V. and then we get packed

to go to the country tomorrow.

Just you and me...How 'bout that?

CUT TO:

129 EXT. KRAMER APT. BLDG. - NIGHT

ESTABLISHING SHOT--HOLD FOR A BEAT, then:

CUT TO:

130 INT. LIVING ROOM, KRAMER APT. - NIGHT

ON TED--He sits at the dining table, a typewriter in

front of him. As he begins to type, hunt and peck

system, we:

CUT TO:

INSERT, HIS P.O.V.: The page in the typewriter. We SEE

and HEAR at the same time.

TED (V.O.)

Joanna...This is by way of intro-

ducing William Kramer. He is a

sweet child, as you will see.

He is allergic to grape juice,

but will more than make up for

the loss in apple juice. He is

also allergic to peanut butter

from the health food store, but

not from the supermarket. Don't

ask me why.

CUT TO:

131 EXT. STREET - DAY

ON A CORNER MAILBOX--as Ted mails the letter.

TED (V.O.)

At times, in the night he will

have nightmares, one particular

monster is called The Face. The

Face, as best as I can determine,

looks like a circus clown without

a body, and from what the pedia-

trician says, and what I have

read, may be sexual fear of losing

his penis, or a fear of his own

anger, or just a circus clown he

saw once.

CUT TO:

132 EXT. STREET - DAY

ON THE SAME MAILBOX--as a sack of mail is loaded into

a truck.

TED (V.O.)

His doctor, by the way, is still

Ed Davies. The Sundafed is for

colds, one tablespoon every four

hours. I will pack it in the blue

suitcase.

CUT TO:

133 EXT. JOANNA KRAMER'S APT. BLDG. - DAY

WIDE SHOT--A postman enters the building carrying a bag

of mail.

TED (V.O.)

His best stories have been Babar

and Winnie the Pooh up to now,

with Batman moving up. His house-

keeper has been Etta Willewska and

she is the main reason for the note.

She is a loving woman, conscientious,

very concerned about Billy and more

important, Billy cares about her.

CUT TO:

134 INT. HALLWAY, JOANNA'S APT. BLDG. - DAY

ON A STACK OF MAIL--as it is dropped in front of a door-

way. We SEE that the letter from Ted to Joanna is on

top.

TED (V.O.)

I urge you to retain her. Her

number is 722-8099, and I think

she will take the job if it is

offered. I'm sure other things

will come up. Ask me what you

need to and I guess eventually

we'll talk...

CUT TO:

135 INT. JOANNA'S APT. - DAY

ON HER--as she finishes reading the letter.

TED (V.O.)

That's all I can think of, except

to repeat what I said before, he's

a terrific kid. I'm grateful for

the time we've had together and I

feel I am a better man because of

my son...Ted.

CUT TO:

136 EXT. BEACH - DAY

It is a clear, cold beautiful winter's day. Ted and

Billy walk along the beach at the edge of the water.

THE CAMERA TRACKS WITH THEM. There are several beats

of silence as Ted tries to think of how to begin.

Finally:

TED:

Billy, sometimes when a mother

and a father are divorced, there's

a discussion about who the child

should live with, the mother or

the father. Now there is a man

who is very wise. He's called a

judge. And a judge has a lot of

experience with divorces and he

decides who it would be best for

the child to live with.

BILLY:

Why does he decide?

TED:

Because...Well, that's what he

does. He's a very powerful man.

BILLY:

Like a principal?

TED:

Bigger than a principal. The

judge sits in robes in a big chair..

The judge has thought a lot about

us, about you and me and your

mom, and he has decided...

(a deep breath)

...he has decided that it would

be best for you to live with your

mom Joanna in her apartment.

(fake cheerful)

And I'm very lucky. Because even

though you'll live with your mom

Joanna I'll get to see you once a

week for dinner and a couple of

weekends a month.

BILLY:

I don't understand, daddy.

TED:

(trying very hard

not to cry)

What don't you understand, pal?

BILLY:

Where will my bed be, where will

I sleep?

TED:

At your mom's. She'll have a

bed for you in your own room.

BILLY:

Where will my toys be?

TED:

I'll send your toys there and

I'm sure you'll get some new ones.

BILLY:

Who will read me my stories?

TED:

Your mom.

BILLY:

(worried)

Daddy, what if The Face comes when

I'm at mommy's?

TED:

Your mom knows all about The Face,

okay? Don't worry, she'll tell

The Face to beat it.

BILLY:

Will you come and say good-night

to me every night?

Suddenly Ted can't stand it any longer.

TED:

Look, it's getting cold. Why

don't you go inside where it's

warm. I'll be along in a minute.

Billy hangs back, watching Ted.

TED:

Go on, scoot.

The boy turns and runs back along the beach toward the

house. Then, he stops, turns back to look once more

at his father.

HIS P.O.V.:
LONG SHOT--Ted stands at the ocean's edge,

his back to CAMERA, weeping.

FADE TO BLACK:

137 EXT. KRAMER APT. BLDG. - DAY

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