Kramer vs. Kramer Page #3

JOANNA:

My American Express...My

Bloomingdale's Credit Card...

My check book--

TED:

(the martyr)

Okay, okay...What is it this

time? What did I do now?...

JOANNA:

(ignoring this)

I took two thousand out of the

savings account. That was what

I had in the bank when we got

married.

TED:

Joanna, whatever it is, believe

me, I'm sorry.

JOANNA:

Here are the slips for the laundry

and the cleaning. They'll be

ready on Saturday.

TED:

(hard lining it)

Now listen, before you do something

you'll really regret you'd better

stop and think--

JOANNA:

(not bothering to

look up)

I've paid the rent, the Con-Ed

and the phone bill, so you don't

have to worry about them.

She checks off the last item on her list as her husband

watches, dumbfounded.

JOANNA:

There, that's everything.

Joanna gets to her feet and starts toward the front

door. In an instant Ted is after her.

TED:

(panic starting)

For God's sake, Joanna, would

you at least tell me what I did

that's so terrible! Would you

do me that little favor?

ON JOANNA--at the door.

JOANNA:

Look, it's not your fault, okay?

It's me. It's my fault--you

just married the wrong person.

TED:

(placating her)

So we've got problems. Everybody's

got problems--that's normal--

Joanna opens the door and they step out into the hallway.

14 INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE KRAMER APT. - EVENING

JOANNA:

Ted, you're not listening to me.

It's over, finished.

TED:

I'm listening, Joanna--believe me,

I'm listening. My wife is walking

out on me after eight years of--

JOANNA:

(bitter)

You just don't get it, do you?

(as though to a child)

I - am - really - and - truly -

leaving - you.

TED:

I heard you, Joanna. I promise

I heard you.

JOANNA:

No you didn't.

(quietly)

You didn't even ask about Billy.

TED:

(stiffening)

What about Billy?

JOANNA:

I'm not taking him with me.

TED:

What?

JOANNA:

(tears start)

Ted, I can't...I tried...I really

tried but...I just can't hack it

anymore...

TED:

C'mon, Joanna, you don't mean

that. You're a terrific mother--

JOANNA:

(from her gut)

I am not! I'm a terrible mother!

I'm an awful mother. I yell at

him all the time. I have no

patience. No...No. He's better

off without me.

(unable to look

at Ted)

Ted, I've got to go...I've got

to go.

TED:

(desperate)

Okay, I understand and I promise

I won't try and stop you, but you

can't just go...Look, come inside

and talk...Just for a few minutes.

JOANNA:

(pleading)

NO!...Please...Please don't make

me stay...I swear...If you do,

sooner or later...maybe tomorrow,

maybe next week...maybe a year

from now...

(looking directly

at him)

I'll go right out the window.

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