"The Bet" (also known as "The Gun") is an unproduced episode of American NBC sitcom Seinfeld, during its second season, from 1991.[2][3][4] The episode was written by Larry Charles and went into pre-production before the cast unanimously agreed to abandon it. The episode "The Phone Message", written by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, was produced in its place.[5]
| "The Bet" | |
|---|---|
| Seinfeld episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 |
| Directed by | Tom Cherones |
| Written by | Larry Charles |
| Original air date | Unaired |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
A script for the episode was discovered in May 2024, deeming it official and available to read.[6][7]
Plot
editJerry, George, and Elaine are at Monk's Café where Jerry tries talking about being open for lesbians, but George and Elaine give a poor response. Elaine says she wants to buy a gun to avoid being mugged; Jerry is highly against it. Later, in Jerry's apartment, Kramer returns from Puerto Rico with a tan, saying he had sex with a stewardess. George doubts him, saying that he's no Tom Cruise from the film Top Gun (1986). Elaine arrives and wants to buy a gun; Kramer suggests hooking her up with Mo Korn, his gun salesman friend. Jerry protests, but it is futile and Elaine goes with Kramer to his apartment to check out a stun gun. George and Jerry bet $1,000 whether Kramer had sex.
In Mo Korn's apartment in the old building, Mo is revealed to be a recluse and shady character who lets the gang in, mysterious and expectant of them. His mother is in the other room, with no clothes, and Kramer calls her by her first name: Muriel. Everyone sits in the living room while Jerry is anxious to leave, but Kramer and Elaine examine the guns Mo shows them. Since they are friends, Elaine gets a gun for free. She likes the colors (Jade will go with her purse) and playfully points the gun at Jerry to everyone, but Jerry's, amusement. Police are heard banging at the door to everyone's horror. Mo goes to the door armed and ready to Jerry's horror, but it's just his friends Chicky and Mintz. Elaine and Jerry relax; Kramer laughs. Chicky and Mintz want to go to 42nd Street where the action is and also where Jerry used to go all the time before he became a "big shot"; however, he is coerced into going, leaving Elaine with Kramer.
In George's car, he waits for Jerry with Elaine so they can go to the airport. Elaine, however, never bought a gun because it was too weird for her and she doesn't want to see Jerry happy. She pulls out a toy gun to scare Jerry, to prove him wrong, with George in on it; Jerry arrives and they assume casual. Jerry and Elaine assume talking about spoofs of Presidential assassinations—the Kennedy, the Lincoln, the McKinley. Elaine shows a photograph to Kramer on how to drive to the airport, but George is indecisive about the directions.
At the airport, Jerry and George argue about which route they should have taken; tunnel or bridge. They further argue about who should talk to Connie, the supposed woman who had sex with Kramer. Elaine is told to ask a random woman, but the woman is too pretty and Kramer would never have a shot unless she had a fetish about human oddities. Nevertheless, Elaine talks to the real Connie, who has a southern accent, which is mocked by George. They try to pass mention of the intercourse, with "a very good time", but Connie is none the wiser and attempts to leave. However, Jerry and Elaine push for her, with Elaine trying to take out Kramer's picture, but the gun drops out of her purse. The three are then surrounded by security; Connie screams and everyone is shocked.
Back in Jerry's apartment, Jerry, George, and Elaine wait for a food delivery. Jerry complains about the food service a block away, predicting an exchange in which he would call and complain about how the food is late. He then goes on about how he only wants something to eat and whose problem it may be, but the doorbell subsequently rings. It turns out to be Kramer, who has an envelope with a message from Connie. The message explains that Connie had to leave the airline for sales because of the incident with Jerry and Elaine at the airport, and decided to purchase a gun. George denies the legitimacy and argues with Kramer on exit about another girl on the F train.
Production
editThis episode has never been made, although certain plot elements have been recollected by cast members during a (hidden) interview for the DVD. Actor Jason Alexander knew it would never be made. The cast rehearsed, but after 20 minutes, the director, Tom Cherones, reported to NBC executive Glenn Padnick that the cast rejected the episode; Padnick was relieved. Larry Charles wrote it, intending for it to be a "dark humor" episode, but failed.[8]
The character of Kramer was originally named "Conrad Kramer",[9] but it would later become and be revealed as "Cosmo Kramer".[a]
Notes
edit- ^ As depicted in "The Switch"
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Seinfeld Seasons 1 & 2: Notes about Nothing – "The Stranded" (DVD). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. November 3, 2004.
- ^ Hekimian, Colin (June 13, 2021). "One 'Seinfeld' Episode Was Too Controversial to Produce". CBR. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Ryan, Mike (July 9, 2014). "The Lost Episode of 'Seinfeld'". ScreenCrush. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ "Gambling on 'Seinfeld': 'The Bet' and More | Odds Shark". Odds Shark. January 10, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Seinfeld Clips (September 26, 2022). Seinfeld "The Bet" Inside Look. Retrieved June 8, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Kelly, Keegan (April 25, 2024). "Hero 'Seinfeld' Fan Finally Releases Script from Banned Episode 'The Bet'". Cracked.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Wilstein, Matt (April 26, 2024). "'Seinfeld' Writer Larry Charles Confirms Leaked Script for Lost Episode 'The Gun' is Real". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Bove, Kate (March 3, 2020). "Yada, Yada, Yada: Seinfeld's Behind-the-Scenes Secrets Even Diehard Fans Don't Know". Ask.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Evans, Bradford (July 9, 2014). "Kramer's Original First Name Was 'Conrad' and More from Seinfeld's Lost Episode". Vulture. Retrieved June 8, 2024.