The Pitch

[At club bar]

Jerry and George are talking. Stu and Jay enter.

STUExcuse me, Jerry? I'm Stu Chermak. I'm with NBC.

JERRYHi.

STUCould we speak for a few moments?

JERRYSure.

JAYHi, Jay Crespi.

JERRYHello.

GEORGEUh, C-R-E-S-P-I?

JAYThat's right.

GEORGEI'm unbelievable at spelling last names. Give me a last name.

JAYMm, I'm not-

JERRYGeorge-

GEORGE(backing off) Huh? All right, fine.

STUFirst of all, that was a terrific show.

JERRYOh thank you very much.

STUAnd basically, I just wanted to let you know that we've been discussing you at some of our meetings and we'd be very interested in doing something.

JERRYReally? Wow.

STUSo, if you have any idea for like a TV show for yourself, well, we'd just love to talk about it.

JERRYI'd be very interested in something like that.

STUWell, here, uh, why don't you give us a call and maybe we can develop a series.

They start to exit.

JERRYOkay. Great. Thanks.

STUIt was very nice meeting you.

JeryThank you.

JAYNice meeting you.

JERRYNice meeting you.

[George returns]

GEORGEWhat was that all about?

JERRYThey said they were interested in me.

GEORGEFor what?

JERRYYou know, a TV show.

GEORGEYour own show?

JERRYYeah, I guess so.

GEORGEThey want you to do a TV show?

JERRYWell, they want me to come up with an idea. I mean, I don't have any ideas.

GEORGECome on, how hard is that? Look at all the junk that's on TV. You want an idea? Here's an idea. You coach gymnastics team in high school. And you're married. And your son's not interested in gymnastics and you're pushing him into gymnastics.

JERRYWhy should I care if my son's into gymnastics?

GEORGEBecause you're a gymnastics teacher. It's only natural.

JERRYBut gymnastics is not for everybody.

GEORGEI know, but he's your son.

JERRYSo what?

GEORGEAll right, forget that idea, it's not for you....Okay, okay, I got it. You run an antique store.

JERRYYeah and...?

GEORGEAnd people come in the store and you get involved in their lives.

JERRYWhat person who runs an antique store gets involved in people's lives?

GEORGEWhy not?

JERRYSo someone comes in to buy an old lamp and all of a sudden I'm getting them out of a jam? I could see if I was a pharmacist because a pharmacist knows what's wrong with everybody that comes in.

GEORGEI know, but antiques are very popular right now.

JERRYNo they're not, they used to be.

GEORGEOh yeah, like you know.

JERRYOh like you do.

[Jerry's Apartment]

KRAMER...And you're the manager of the circus.

JERRYA circus?

KRAMERCome on, this is a great idea. Look at the characters. You've got all these freaks on the show. A woman with a moustache? I mean, who wouldn't tune in to see a women with a moustache? You've for the tallest man in the world; a guy who's just a head.

JERRYI don't think so.

KRAMERLook Jerry, the show isn't about the circus, it's about watching freaks.

JERRYI don't think the network will go for it.

KRAMERWhy not?

JERRYLook, I'm not pitching a show about freaks.

KRAMEROh come on Jerry, you're wrong. People they want to watch freaks. This is a "can't miss."

NEWMAN:Kramer.

JERRYHello Newman.

NEWMANCome on lets go. I got the helmet. Lets get the radar detector.

KRAMERAll right I'll be back in a second. You guys coming to my party? [exits]

TogetherYeah, sure.

JERRYWhat's this all about?

NEWMANWe're making a trade. I'm giving him my motorcycle helmet - he's giving me his radar detector.

JERRYI didn't know you had a motorctcle.

NEWMANWell my girlfriend had one.

JERRYYou have a girlfriend?

NEWMANI HAD a girlfriend and she was pretty wild.

JERRYI never remember you with a girl.

NEWMANNevertheless, ...

JERRYThis is a pretty bad deal for Kramer. You know a radar detector is worth much more than that helmet. I think you're cheating him.

NEWMANDon't say anything.

JERRYAll right.

[Kramer enters]

JERRYYou know you're getting gypped over here.

KRAMERReally, Ah,

NEWMANWe had a deal. Are you reneging out of the deal? Are you reneging? That's a renege.

KRAMEROh, stop saying 'reneging".

NEWMANWell you're reneging.

KRAMERI, Okay, okay. I'm not reneging.

[they try to exchange items but won't let go]

NEWMANAll right give it to me. let go ...

KRAMERYou let go - come on ...[they fight over the items]

JERRYGimme that - just gimme that. Here. Idiots!

NEWMANThanks buddy. So long he he ...[exits]

JERRYDoes that thing work?

KRAMERNah.

At Monks.

[Jerry and George enter.]

JERRY... I just got a postcard from Elaine?

GEORGEReally?

JERRYYeah, they're in London now. They'll be back in a few weeks.

GEORGEI can't believe she got involved with a shrink.

GEORGESo, what's happening with the TV show? You come up with anything?

JERRYNo, nothing.

GEORGEWhy don't they have salsa on the table?

JERRYWhat do you need salsa for?

GEORGESalsa is now the number one condiment in America.

JERRYYou know why? Because people like to say "salsa." "Excuse me, do you have salsa?" "We need more salsa." "Where is the salsa? No salsa?"

GEORGEYou know it must be impossible for a Spanish person to order seltzer and not get salsa. (Angry) "I wanted seltzer, not salsa."

JERRY"Don't you know the difference between seltzer and salsa?? You have the seltezer after the salsa!"

GEORGESee, this should be a show. This is the show.

JERRYWhat?

GEORGEThis. Just talking.

JERRY(dismissing) Yeah, right.

GEORGEI'm really serious. I think that's a good idea.

JERRYJust talking? Well what's the show about?

GEORGEIt's about nothing.

JERRYNo story?

GEORGENo forget the story.

JERRYYou've got to have a story.

GEORGEWho says you gotta have a story? Remember when we were waiting for, for that table in that Chinese restaurant that time? That could be a TV show.

JERRYAnd who is on the show? Who are the characters?

GEORGEI could be a character.

JERRYYou?

GEORGEYeah. You could base a character on me.

JERRYSo, on the show, there's a character named George Costanza?

GEORGEYeah. There's something wrong with that? I'm a character. People are always saying to me, "You know you're a quite a character."

JERRYAnd who else is on the show?

GEORGEElaine could be a character. Kramer..

JERRYNow he's a character. (Pause) So everybody I know is a character on the show.

GEORGERight.

JERRYAnd it's about nothing?

GEORGEAbsolutely nothing.

JERRYSo you're saying, I go in to NBC, and tell them I got this idea for a show about nothing.

GEORGEWe go into NBC.

JERRY"We"? Since when are you a writer?

GEORGE(Scoffs) Writer. We're talking about a sit-com.

JERRYYou want to go with me to NBC?

GEORGEYeah. I think we really go something here.

JERRYWhat do we got?

GEORGEAn idea.

JERRYWhat idea?

GEORGEAn idea for the show.

JERRYI still don't know what the idea is.

GEORGEIt's about nothing.

JERRYRight.

GEORGEEverybody's doing something, we'll do nothing.

JERRYSo, we go into NBC, we tell them we've got an idea for a show about nothing.

GEORGEExactly.

JERRYThey say, "What's your show about?" I say, "Nothing."

GEORGEThere you go.

(A moment passes)

JERRY(Nodding) I think you may have something there.

[Jerry's apartment]

(Jerry's explaining George's idea to Kramer)

JERRYSo, the show would be about my real life. And one of the characters would be based on you.

KRAMER(Thinks) No, I don't think so.

JERRYWhat do you mean you don't think so?

KRAMERI don't like it.

JERRYI don't understand. What don't you like about it?

KRAMERI don't like the idea of a character based on me.

JERRYWhy not?

KRAMERwell it just doesn't sit well.

JERRYYou're my neighbor. There's got to be a character based on you.

KRAMERThat's your problem, buddy.

JERRYI don't understand what the big deal is.

KRAMERHey, I'll tell you what - you can do it on one condition.

JERRYWhatever you want.

KRAMERI get to play Kramer.

JERRYYou can't play Kramer.

KRAMERI am Kramer.

JERRYBut you can't act.

KRAMERPhew!

[Newman enters]

JERRYOkay, fine. We'll use Newman.

KRAMERNewman?

NEWMAN:Use me for what?

JERRYNothin' What do you want?

NEWMAN:Well, you'll never guess what happened to me today. I was uh, driving [ Jerry and Kramer turn away] home on the palisades parkway when I looked in the rear view mirror and what did I see? The fuzz. And it's funny because my new radar detector was on. I didn't hear a thing. Isn't that strange?

KRAMERYeah. That's strange.

NEWMAN:A radar detector, as I understand it, DETECTS RADAR! WITH A SERIES OF BEEPS AND FLASHING LIGHTS. But oddly, for some reason I didn't hear a thing except for the sound of a police siren.

KRAMERThat's queer uh?

NEWMAN:I WANT MY HELMET BACK! GIVE ME BACK MY HELMET AND YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT TICKET.

KRAMERYeah, you better think again Mojumbo.

NEWMAN:You gave me a defective detector. ... Jerry?

JERRYBuyer beware.

NEWMAN:Are you going to give me back that helmet or not?

KRAMERNo. We had a deal. There are no guarantees in life.

NEWMAN:No, but there's karma, Kramer.

JERRYKarma Kramer?

NEWMAN:And one more thing. I'm not coming to your party. [exits]

(Scene ends) [ NBC reception area)

(Jerry and George are waiting)

JERRY(To himself) Salsa, seltzer. Hey, excuse me, you got any salsa? No, not selzer, salsa. (George doesn't react) What's the matter?

GEORGE(Nervous) Nothing.

JERRYYou sure? You look a little pale.

GEORGENo, I'm fine. I'm good. I'm very good.

JERRYWhat, are you nervous?

GEORGENo, not nervous. I'm good, very good. (A beat, then he snaps) I can't do this! Can't do this!

JERRYWhat?

GEORGEI can't do this! I can't do it. I have tried. I'm here. It's impossible.

JERRYThis was your idea!

GEORGEWhat idea? I just said something. I didn't know you were going to listen to me.

JERRYDont' worry about it. They're just TV executives.

GEORGEThey're men with jobs, Jerry! They wear suits and ties. They're married, they have secretaries.

JERRYI told you not to come.

GEORGEI need some water. I gotta get some water.

JERRYThey'll give us water in there.

GEORGEReally? That's pretty good.

[Jerry looks into hallway]

JERRYOh God, it's Joe Devola.

GEORGEWho?

JERRYThis guy's a writer, he's a total nut. I think he goes to the same shrink as Elaine.

JERRYOh God he saw me.

DEVOLAHello Jerry.

JERRYHey Joe! HOW YOU DOING?

DEVOLAYou're under no obligation to shake my hand.

JERRYOh, no, Just a custom. Uh, THAT'S MY FRIEND GEORGE. YOU LOOK GOOD.

DEVOLAWhy shouldn't I look good?

JERRYOh, no reason. You're into karate right?

DEVOLAYou want to hit me?

JERRYWhat are you doing here?

DEVOLAI dreopped a script off.

JERRYAH, GOOD FOR YOU.

[they stare at each other]

JERRYWell, ...

DEVOLAYou don't have to say anything.

JERRYNo, Uh, hey I guess I'll see you Sunday night.

DEVOLAWhy?

JERRYKramer's party.

DEVOLAKramer's ... having ... a ... party?

JERRYNo, no, he's not having a party. He's doing something. I don't know what it is. It's nothing. He's not doing anything.

DEVOLAGee, I thought Kramer and I were very close friends.

JERRYNo, I'm sure you are. I'm sure you are very close friends. Very close.

[Crazy Joe leaves]

JERRYGive my best to Hinckley.

GEORGEWhat was that?

JERRYI can't believe what I just did. I didn't know kramer didn't invite him. I better call Kramer, ...

[before he can dial]

RECEPTIONISTThey're ready for you.

GEORGEOkay, okay. Look, you do all the talking, okay?

JERRYRelax. Who are they?

GEORGEYeah, they're not better than me.

JERRYCourse not.

GEORGEWho are they?

JERRYThey're nobody.

GEORGEWhat about me?

JERRYWhat about you?

GEORGEWhy them? Why not me?

JERRYWhy not you?

GEORGEI'm as good as them.

JERRYBetter.

GEORGEYou really think so?

JERRYNo.

(The door opens, and, from Jerry and George's point of view, four executives stand up)

(Scene ends) [ NBC president's office]

(Stu Chermak, Susan Ross, Jay Crespi, and Russell Dalrymple, the head of the network, are all talking with Jerry and George)

STU(To Jerry, laughing about one of his bits) The bit, the bit I really liked what were the parakeet flew into the mirror. Now that's funny.

GEORGEThe parakeet in the mirror. That's a good one, Stu.

JERRYYeah, it's one of my favorites.

RUSSELLWhat about you, George? Have you written anything we might know?

GEORGE(Quickly making it up) Well, possibly. I wrote an off-Broadway show, "La Cocina." ..Actually, it was off-off-Broadway. It was a comedy about a Mexican chef.

JERRYOh, it was very funny. There was one great scene with the chef - what was his name?

GEORGEPepe.

JERRYOh, Pepe. Yeah, Pepe. And, uh, he was making tamales.

SusaNEWMAN:Oh, he actually cooked on the stage?

GEORGENo, no, he mimed it. That's what was so funny about it.

RUSSELLSo, what have you two come up with?

JERRYWell, we've thought about this in a variety of ways. But the basic idea is I will play myself-

GEORGE(Interrupting) May I?

JERRYGo ahead.

GEORGEI think I can sum up the show for you with one word: NOTHING.

RUSSELLNothing?

GEORGE(Smiling) Nothing.

RUSSELL(Unimpressed) What does that mean?

GEORGEThe show is about nothing.

JERRY(To George) Well, it's not about nothing.

GEORGE(To Jerry) No, it's about nothing.

JERRYWell, maybe in philosophy. But, even nothing is something.

(Jerry and George glare at each other. The receptionist enters)

ReceptionistMr. Dalrymple, your niece is on the phone.

RUSSELLI'll call back.

(Receptionist leaves)

GEORGE:(Attempting to spell his last name) D-A-L-R-I-M-P-E-L?

RUSSELL(Obviously dislikes George) Not even close.

GEORGEIs it with a "y"?

RUSSELLNo.

SusaNEWMAN:What's the premise?

JERRY..Well, as I was saying, I would play myself, and, as a comedian, living in New York, I have a friend, a neighbor, and an ex-girlfriend, which is all true.

GEORGEYeah, but nothing happens on the show. You see, it's just like life. You know, you eat, you go shopping, you read.. You eat, you read, You go shopping.

RUSSELLYou read? You read on the show?

JERRYWell, I don't know about the reading.. We didn't discuss the reading.

RUSSELLAll right, tell me, tell me about the stories. What kind of stories?

GEORGEOh, no. No stories.

RUSSELLNo stories? So, what is it?

GEORGE(Showing an example) What'd you do today?

RUSSELLI got up and came to work.

GEORGEThere's a show. That's a show.

RUSSELL(Confused) How is that a show?

JERRYWell, uh, maybe something happens on the way to work.

GEORGENo, no, no. Nothing happens.

JERRYWell, something happens.

RUSSELLWell, why am I watching it?

GEORGEBecause it's on TV.

RUSSELL(Threatening) Not yet.

GEORGEOkay, uh, look, if you want to just keep on doing the same old thing, then maybe this idea is not for you. I, for one, am not going to compromise my artistic integrity. And I'll tell you something else, this is the show and we're not going to change it. (To Jerry) Right?

(A moment passes)

JERRY(To Russell) How about this: I manage a circus..

[Monks]

JERRYI don't even want to talk about it anymore. What were you thinking? What was going on in your mind? Artistic integrity? Where, where did you come up with that? You're not artistic and you have no integrity. You know you really need some help. A regular psychiatrist couldn't even help you. You need to go to like Vienna or something. You know what I mean? You need to get involved at the University level. Like where Freud studied and have all those people looking at you and checking up on you. That's the kind of help you need. Not the once a week for eighty bucks. No. You need a team. A team of psychiatrists working round the clock thinking about you, having conferences, observing you, like the way they did with the Elephant Man. That's what I'm talking about because that's the only way you're going to get better.

GEORGE. . . I thought the woman was kind of cute.

JERRYHold it. I really want to be clear about this. Are you talking about the woman in the meeting? Is that the woman you're talking about?

GEORGEYeah, I thought I might give her a call. I, I don't meet that many women. I meet like three women a year. I mean, we've been introduced. She knows my name.

JERRYIT'S COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE!

GEORGEWhy? Maybe she liked me. I, I mean she was looking right at me. You know, I think she was impressed. You know, we had good eye contact the whole meeting.

JERRYOh, I forgot to call Kramer.

GEORGEWait a minute let me call Susan.

JERRYNo, no this is more important.

GEORGEShe might be leaving to work any minute.

JERRYNo, I got to warn him that I told Joe Devola about his party.

GEORGENo.

[they race to the pay phone]

[Paris hotel room - Dr. Reston and Elaine are kissing]

ELAINEWhat is it?

DR. RESTON: I was just thinking about this patient of mine.

ELAINEWhat?

DR. RESTON: Just wondering if he's taking his medication.

ELAINEWell, come on we're on vacation.

[Jerry's apartment]

JERRYWell we were standing uh, inn the waiting area there, and you know how Devola is. He's all, ... [buzzer]

KRAMERYeah [to buzzer]

GEORGE[OC] It's George.

JERRYAnd so, uh I felt very uncomfortable with him and you know I just blurted out something about your party.

KRAMERWhoa, back up a second.

JERRYWell, I didn't know that you didn't invite him.

KRAMERWhy would you think I would invite him?

JERRYI just a ssumed, ...

KRAMERAssumed? Never assume anything. I don't want that nut in my house. You know he's on medication.

[George and Susan enter]

GEORGEHello, oh, hello. You remember, ... Susan, from N B C.

JERRYOf course. How are you?

SUSANFine, it's good to see you.

GEORGEAnd this is Kramer.

SUSANHello.

GEORGEAll right go ahead Susan, tell him.

JERRYTell me what?

SUSANWell, I, [phone rings]

JERRYUh, sorry, Excuse me one second. Hello.

TELHi, would you be interested in switching over to TMI long distance service.

JERRYOh, gee, I can't talk right now. Why don't you give me your home number and I'll call you later.

TELUh, I'm sorry we're not allowed to do that.

JERRYOh, I guess you don't want people calling you at home.

TELNo.

JERRYWell now you know how I feel. [Hangs up]

GEORGEWell, go ahead, tell him.

JERRYKramer, are you drinking that milk?

KRAMERYeah.

JERRYWhat's the expiration date on that?

KRAMERSeptember third.

JERRYThe third?

GEORGEand

SUSANThe third?

KRAMERUm, Uh, ugh, ...

SUSANNoooo... [Kramer throws up on Susan]

[Monk's]

GEORGEI never should have brought her up there. Should have known better. Should have seen it coming. I didn't see it coming.

JERRYI think SHE saw it coming.

GEORGEYou know she was behind the idea. She was going to champion the show. That's what I was bring her up there to tell you. And she liked me.

JERRYLook just because Kramer vomited on her doesn't mean the deal is dead.

GEORGEWhat, are you crazy? It's a traumatic thing to be thrown up on.

JERRYVommiting is not a deal breaker. If Hitler had vommited on Chamberlin, Chamberlind still would have given him Chekoslovakia.

GEORGEChamberlind, you could hold his head in nthe toilet, he'd still give you half of Europe.

[Kramer enters with helmet]

JERRYWhat happened to you?

KRAMERDevola came after me.

JERRYWhat? Devola? See I told you this guy is crazy. I can't believe this. What happened?

KRAMERCan I have a coffee. ... What, you know I was walking home and I had to pick up my helmet from the shop, you know. I gota new strap. And I had it on you know, and I was checking the strap out to make sure it fit. Then suddenly I feel this kick hit me on the side of the head. It knocks me down, I look up and it's Crazy Joe Devola. And he say's, "That's what I thin k of your party."

JERRYBoy,that is some kick.

KRAMERWell, yeah, Newman's helmet, it saved my life. Look at that.

JERRYWow, Newman's helmet.

GEORGEHolly.

KRAMERI got bad news for you buddy. Devola says you're next.

JERRYMe, why?

KRAMERHe doesn't like you.

JERRYWhat does he want from me? I didn't do anything. See this is all Elaine's fault. She took off to Europe with his psychiatrist. He probably can't get his medication. Now I got some nut after me.

KRAMERPass the cream.

GEORGEWait a second. [smells it]. all right.

[End SHOW]