Kramer vs. Kramer Scene 1 Summary

  • Vivaldi's "Mandolin Concerto in C Major" plays over the opening credits. We're not saying that when a movie opens with classical music there's always going to be drama, but… We've never seen an Adam Sandler movie open with some Bach, have we?
  • We open on a tight close-up of Joanna gazing at something. We can't tell what, but it's probably not a photo of '70s heartthrob Donny Osmond.
  • Hey, it's her son, Billy. He's in bed. Joanna tells him she loves him. He says he'll see her in the morning. Then we cut to Joanna taking her suitcase out of her bedroom closet. She looks grim.
  • Cut to Ted at work. He's in Jim's office, telling a story about buying a Burberry coat. Yawn.
  • One of their co-workers drops in to say adios. Ted realizes it's late and he should probably head home. He and Jim hit the streets of Manhattan; Jim tries to coax Ted out, but Ted says he has to get home.
  • Back at home, Joanna's throwing clothes in that suitcase—including one of Billy's dirty shirts. We're pretty sure she's not packing for a family vacation.
  • Ted and Jim walk down the street. Uh-oh, here comes the Vivaldi again.
  • Jim tells Ted that if this account goes well, he'll be offered a partnership with the firm. Then they pass a pair of buskers playing the Vivaldi. Wait, what?
  • Joanna sits on the couch, smoking. When Ted knocks at their apartment door, it startles her. He forgot his keys.
  • Ted bursts in, explaining he just has to call the office really quickly, and that she's going to be proud of him.
  • Joanna tells him she's leaving him, but he either isn't paying attention or doesn't believe her. He starts dialing the phone; Joanna watches, looking like she's going to puke hedgehogs.
  • Once Joanna lays out her keys, credit cards, checkbook, and the receipt for the dry cleaning Ted can pick up on Saturday, he realizes she's being serious.
  • Ted follows Joanna out into the hallway. Joanna says it's not him, it's her. Ah, the old "It's not you, it's me" defense. Classic.
  • Joanna gets in the elevator. BTW, she's not taking Billy with; she thinks she's terrible with him. Oh, and she doesn't love Ted anymore, either.
  • As the elevator door closes, Ted asks Joanna where she's going. She doesn't know. And then she's gone.