How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Kramer vs. Kramer.
Quote #4
JIM: Is there another guy?
TED: I don't think so, you know, she's not the type. She's got this friend Margaret downstairs and, you know, and they [mimics chit-chatting nonsense], you know, women's lib, and I think they may've cooked this up. Who knows, you know what mean? It worked!
Ted and Jim laugh.
There's a lot to unpack here. First of all, we're pretty sure nobody ever knowingly marries someone who is the type to cheat. Regardless, Ted dismisses the idea of Joanna finding another man like it's nothing, and we're not sure if that's because he thinks he knows her so well, or because he thinks no woman would ever cheat on Ted Kramer.
Next, Ted lays the blame for Joanna leaving on both Margaret and women's lib. You'll notice who he doesn't blame it on: himself.
Finally, Ted talks to Jim about Joanna and Margaret like they're in first grade. He mimics the way they chat, like chipmunks, and refers to his wife leaving him as a scheme she and Margaret "cooked up" they were pulling a wacky, Lucy and Ethel-style prank and the women's movement is just girlfriend gossip. In short, Ted's showing Joanna very little respect here and taking zero responsibility for the implosion of his marriage.
Quote #5
TED: You think you'll ever get married again?
MARGARET: Nuh-uh.
TED: I mean to anybody.
MARGARET: Oh, no.
TED: Why?
MARGARET: I don't know. Maybe it's different if you don't have children, but even if Charley and I aren't living together, and even if we're sleeping with other people, and even if Charley were to get married again, I don't know: he's still my husband, and he's still the father of my children. That stuff about "'til death do you part," that's really true.
Margaret's in her marriage for the long haul—even if that marriage is technically over. Her attitude about her ex-husband shows that there's a lot more than His and Hers towels when it comes to being married to someone, especially if you have kids.
Quote #6
TED: Okay, look. We're gonna sit here and bat this back and forth like it was for eight years. It's like old times.
JOANNA: Well, you can't deny me access to my baby.
TED: Don't tell me what I can or cannot do. Don't talk to me that way.
JOANNA: I anticipated this whole thing.
When Joanna takes a stand and says Ted can't deny her access to Billy, Ted takes offense. He's this close to adding a foot-stomp and a "You're not the boss of me!" to the end of his protest. He sounds like a petulant teenager, like he thinks he deserves respect solely by virtue of his existence. Joanna, meanwhile, says she anticipated Ted's reaction. Nobody knows Ted better than Joanna: not because they were married, but because she paid attention throughout their marriage.