Meryl Streep credited as playing...
Joanna Kramer
- [Joanna is crying]
- Ted Kramer: Hi, what's up? Tell me. What? What's the matter?
- Joanna Kramer: I woke up this morning, kept thinking about Billy and I was thinking about him waking up in his room with his little clouds all around that I painted and I thought I should have painted clouds downtown because then he would think that he was waking up at home. I came here to take my son home. And I realized he already is home.
- [last lines]
- Ted Kramer: Listen why don't you go upstairs and see him and I'll wait here.
- Joanna Kramer: [wipes the tears from her eyes and pats her hair] How do I look?
- Ted Kramer: You look terrific.
- [Joanna is leaving Ted]
- Ted Kramer: Come on now, what about Billy?
- Joanna Kramer: I'm not taking him with me. I'm no good for him. I'm terrible with him. I have no patience. He's better off without me.
- Ted Kramer: Joanna, please.
- Joanna Kramer: And I don't love you anymore.
- Ted Kramer: Where are you going?
- Joanna Kramer: I don't know.
- Joanna Kramer: I was his mommy for five and a half years. And Ted took over that role for 18 months. But, I don't know how anybody could possibly believe that I have less of a stake in mothering that little boy, than Mr. Kramer does. I'm his mother. I'm his mother.
- Gressen: Are you employed at the present time?
- Joanna Kramer: Yes. I'm a sportswear designer for Silico here in New York.
- Gressen: And what is your present salary.
- Joanna Kramer: I make $31,000.