The Handicap Spot

[At the comedy club]

JerryI have a friend who is about to get married, they're having the bachelor party and the bridal shower on the same day... So it's conceivable that while she's getting the lingerie, he'd be at a nude bar watching a table dancer wearing the same outfit. That is possible. But to me, the difference between being single and being married, is the form of government. You see, when you're single, you are the dictator of your own life. I have complete power. I can give the order to fall asleep on the sofa with the TV on in the middle of the day, no-one can overrule me! When you're married, you're part of a vast decision-making body. Before anything gets done there are meetings. Committees have to study the situation. And this is if the marriage works. That's what's so painful about divorce: you get impeached and you're not even the president!

[Jerry's apartment]

GeorgeHey, is it my imagination, or do really good looking women walk a lot faster than everybody else?

ElaineWe don't walk that fast...

GeorgeNo seriously...

ElaineSeriously, we don't.

GeorgeThe better looking they are, the faster they go! I mean, I see they out there on the street, they're zooming around, like a blur. Like they have a motor on their ass.

Elaine<em class="inline-stage">(Yelling to Jerry in the bedroom)</em> Hey Jerry, come on, let's go. We're gonna miss the previews!

Jerry (coming out of the bathroom): What's the big hurry?

ElaineHey, how are we gettin' to Scott Drake's party on Saturday night?

JerryOh, Drake's party, I forgot to buy a present.

GeorgeI gotta buy a present now?

ElaineOf course you do, it's an engagement party.

GeorgeIt never ends, this present stuff! Engagement present! Then they get married, you gonna have to get them something for that! Then the baby, there's another present. Then the baby starts getting their presents. I don't even like Drake.

JerryYou don't like the Drake?

GeorgeHate the Drake.

ElaineI *love* the Drake.

JerryHow could you not like the Drake?

GeorgeWho's the Drake?

Elaine"Who's the Drake"?

JerryThe Drake is good!

ElaineSo listen, what are you gonna get him?

GeorgeI haven't even met the fiancee! Whatever! <em class="inline-stage">(Leaves for washroom)</em>

JerryElaine, look. I drew this triangle free-hand. It's a doodle. It's perfect!

ElaineSo what? That's easy.

JerryEasy?

(Kramer enters in his usual way)

ElaineHi! Hey, have you gotten your present yet for the Drake?

KramerUh, no, no, not yet.

JerryDo you like the Drake?

KramerI *love* the Drake! I'm looking forward to meeting the Drakette!

ElaineI'm lukewarm about the Drakette.

Kramer<em class="inline-stage">(Looking at Jerry's doodle)</em> That's a nice triangle...

JerryIt's Isosceles

KramerOoh, Isosceles. I love the name Isosceles. If I had a kid, I would name him Isosceles. Isosceles Kramer.

ElaineHey, you know what, maybe we should all chip in for the gift.

JerryThe chip-in!

ElaineHey, a pretty good idea, huh?

JerryYeah!

KramerYeah, the chip-in, defenitely!

JerryYou know what, let's go to that mall in Liberal<em class="inline-stage">(sp?)</em> before we go to the party. We'll have to take your car, it's got the most room.

KramerNo, no! My car's not running.

(George enters the room from the washroom)

JerryWhat about your father's car?

GeorgeNo, no, no. Out of the question. I was over there today. He's got the good spot in front of the good building in the good neighbourhood. I know he's not gonna wanna move.

JerryAre you serious?

GeorgeYou don't know what that spot means to him. Once he gets it, he doesn't go out for weeks.

JerryHow about this, you put your car in the good spot, that'll hold the good spot in front of the good building, and we can get the good car!

GeorgeGood thinking!

JerryGood to meet you!

[George's car]

ElaineSo what are we gonna get him?

JerryWe could get him anything we wanted, we're chippin' in.

GeorgeI like this area. I could live out here.

KramerYeah, we ought to all get a house and live together.

JerryYeah, that's a good idea. I'll tell you what chuckles, I give you permission to sublet my room right now.

GeorgeLook at this. There's no spaces here. <em class="inline-stage">(to another car)</em> Excuse me, are you gettin' out?

Man in carNo!

KramerWhy don't you take a handicap spot...

GeorgeYou think?

ElaineNo, no! We'll find a space. There's spaces in the other lot.

GeorgeI don't want to walk that far.

ElaineWhat if a handicapped person needs it?

KramerOh, come on, they don't drive!

JerryYes, they do!

KramerHave you ever seen a handicapped person pull into a space and park?

JerryWell there's spaces there, they must drive!

KramerWell they don't. If they could drive, they wouldn't be handicapped.

ElaineSo if you can drive, you're not handicapped?

GeorgeLook, we're not gonna be that long anyway... we have to get to the "party"!

KramerI got news for you: handicapped people, they don't even want to park there! They wanna be treated just like anybody else! That's why, those spaces are always empty.

GeorgeHe's right! It's the same thing with the femenists. You know, they want everything to be equal, everything! But when the check comes, where are they?

ElaineWhat does that mean?

GeorgeYeah! Alright, I'm pulling in.

KramerYeah, go ahead.

ElaineGeorge!

GeorgeOh, come on, it's five minutes.

(pulls into handicap spot)

KramerMake sure we don't forget where the car's parked.

Jerry, George, Elaine: Don't worry. We won't forget!

[walking in the parking garage]

JerryDo you believe the deal we got on this? A big screen TV? At that price?

ElaineWhat a sale, huh? And how about that store, delivering it tonight? We're gonna be swimming in 'thank you's...

GeorgeWhat did I get the veggie burger for? You got a veggie burger, so I had to get the veggie burger, I'm allover crums...

JerryNo-one's gonna have a better gift than this big screen TV! Good for them, love the Drake!

ElaineGot to *love* the Drake!

(sound of police cars)

JerryHey, what's going on over here?

ElaineMust have been an accident...

(they turn the corner so they can see their car, surrounded by a lot of people)

Jerry<em class="inline-stage">(to a woman)</em> Hey, what's going on?

WomanSome jerk parked in a handicap spot, so this woman in a wheelchair had to wheel up this incline, and half way up her batteries gave up, and she rolled backwards into the wall. Taken her to St. Elizabeth's...

JerryIs she OK?

WomanI don't know. We're just waiting here for the owner of this car to show up. May not get out alive! Thug! Taking up a handicap spot? He's gonna pay!

JerrySon's of bitches! Good luck finding them... him... whatever. I'd like to stick around and get my hands on him myself, but I gotta take off.

(man hits George's car in rage)

GeorgeHow are we gonna get out of here? They'll kill us!

Elaine<em class="inline-stage">(to George)</em> Are you happy now?

KramerWho would think these people we're gonna be here?

JerryI don't know...

ElaineWhat about the party? What about the Drake?

GeorgeScrew the Drake!

JerryI love the Drake!

KramerLet's just take a bus back to the city.

GeorgeCan't leave the car here!

KramerWhy not?

GeorgeIt's my father's car!

Man who hit car ealierLet's smash it!

EverybodyYeah! Yeah!

JerryLet's get out of here.

[coffee shop]

GeorgeWhat are we gonna do? How are we gonna get out of here?

JerryThe thing is, even if we go back by the car, and there's nobody there, how do we know they're not all hiding, waiting for us?

ElaineWell, they have to give up some time, they can't stay out there all night?

JerryWhat are we, John Dillinger? How did this get to be the crime of the century? It's not like we stuck a broomstick in her spokes and she went flying...

GeorgeWhat I don't get is, just because the battery is dead, you think she'd be able to roll up the hill with her hands!

KramerYou'd think...

GeorgeI mean, batteries have gone dead before, aren't they prepared for that?

KramerMost of them don't even have batteries.

GeorgeMust be one of those rich, spoiled handicapped people, who didn't want to do any work, and just wanted to sit in her wheelchair and take it easy.

KramerYeah...

GeorgeWell, I'm sorry!

ElaineOur big screen TV is probably arriving right now...

GeorgeHow are we gonna get out of here? We need a plan!

JerryI got it! <em class="inline-stage">(snaps his fingers)</em> We give the keys to Elaine.

ElaineMe?

JerryYeah! You're a woman! Men don't hit a woman!

ElaineOh, they won't?

JerryNot if they don't know you...

ElaineI'm not going for this, Kramer should go! It was all his idea!

KramerNo chance in hell!

JerryWhat if we created some sort of diversion? What if we all went by the car and started screaming: "There he is, there's the guy that took the handicap spot!" And then, when they all run into the other direction, we'll jump in the car!

GeorgeThat's good, we'll give it a try...

ElaineThat's good...

JerryThat doesn't work, we'll give 'em Kramer!

KramerHuh?

[parking garage]

(the four of them approach George's car, which is smashed to pieces)

Jerry<em class="inline-stage">(as George picks up a broken piece of his car)</em> You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out...

[George's parents' house]

FrankEight years have I had this car. Not a scratch on it! Eight years!

(Estelle is playing Mahjongh with the ladies)

FrankA beautiful Mercury! I special-ordered that bench seat!

GeorgeDad, that other car cut us off! They had swastikas all over it... They were hurling racial epiphates at us... I could have been killed!

Estelle<em class="inline-stage">(to Frank)</em> I told you not to give it to him!

Frank<em class="inline-stage">(to George)</em> You know, my insurance doesn't cover this? The whole thing is a total loss!

Mahjongh ladyFrank, the important thing is, he didn't get hurt!

FrankNo it isn't!

Mahjongh ladySo what are you doing now, Georgie?

GeorgeI'm uh... writing a pilot for NBC...

FrankWhere the hell is my paper?

Mahjongh ladyYou're writing a pilot?

EstelleWith his friend, Jerry Seinfeld... the comedian...

Mahjongh ladySo what's it about?

GeorgeWell, Jerry's car gets hit and the other driver doesn't have any insurance, so the judge sentences him to be Jerry's butler.

Majongh ladiesThis is the same situation! Frank, maybe you ought to make him your butler! <em class="inline-stage">(giggling)</em>

EstelleEvery time you're with that Kramer, something happens... He's a real trouble maker!

GeorgeNah, he didn't have anything to do with it...

EstelleHe's all together crazy, that one! Jerry? I used to think was nice... I don't know what happened to him...

(Estelle wins at Mahjongh)

[Jerry's apartment]

(Jerry's on the phone with the Drake, Elaine is eating an Oreo cookie)

Jerry<em class="inline-stage">(to the Drake)</em> So it was a good party, huh? Oh... you're welcome, you're welcome... <em class="inline-stage">(to Elaine)</em> They loved the TV, *loved* it!

ElaineOh, yeah...

Jerry<em class="inline-stage">(to the Drake)</em> Oh, wait a second, I'll ask her.. that's a great idea. <em class="inline-stage">(To Elaine)</em> Drake wants to know if we want to come out to Minneolis this afternoon, since we missed the partly last night, to maybe get something to eat?

ElaineSure!

Jerry<em class="inline-stage">(to the Drake)</em> Sure! ... Okay... Don't worry, I'm taking MY car! ... okay... okay, see you later... bye...

JerryThe Drake is great!

ElaineHmm.. he's so nice! I'm really happy for them.

JerryYeah. Well, I don't know if I'm happy for them, I mean I'm glad they're happy, but, frankly, that doesn't do anything for me.

[buzzer rings]

JerryYes?

GeorgeIt's me.

JerryCome on up.

[Door opens, Kramer enters]

KramerHey. I just came from St. Elizabeth's.

JerrySt. Elizabeth's Hospital? Why?

KramerWell, the handicapped woman? I went to see her.

ElaineYou went to see her?

KramerYeah.

JerryWow, what happened?

KramerI'm in love.

JerryWhat?

KramerYeah, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I love her Jerry, I really love her. I'm gonna ask her to marry me. She's got everything I've always wanted in another human being. Except for the walking.

JerryOh, what's the difference, you don't go out that much.

[George enters]

KramerAh, I'm glad you're here.

GeorgeWhat?

KramerAlright, now, we gotta go out. We gotta buy a wheelchair.

GeorgeA wheelchair? What for?

KramerWell, you know I went to the hospital today, and I saw the woman, you know, and the wheelchair is totalled, we gotta get her another one!

GeorgeDoesn't she have collision?

KramerGeorge, I'm in love with her!

GeorgeWell, my father works for the United Volunteers, maybe he can get her one.

KramerNo! She needs it now!

GeorgeWhat about these two? Aren't they gonna chip in?

KramerWell...

ElaineHey, we told you not to park there!

GeorgeCan't we just fix the old one?

KramerAlright, alright. Fine George! Don't chip in! But some day, we're gonna be driving along, we're gonna look out the window, and see her crawling along 5th avenue! Is that what you want?

GeorgeAlright, alright! We'll buy her a wheelchair! Wheelchairs, engagement presents.. IT NEVER ENDS!

[at Surgical Appliances]

SalesmanThis is out best model. The Cougar 9000. It's the Rolls Royce of wheelchairs. This is like... you're almost glad to be handicapped.

KramerSo now, what's this got?

SalesmanInductive joystick, dynamic braking, flip-up arms, it's fully loaded. I put Stephen Hawking in one of these two months ago, he's lovin' it! It's rated number one by Hospital Supply and Prosthetic Magazine.

GeorgeHow much?

Salesman6200.

GeorgeDo you have something a little more... less expensive?

[At the Drake's]

(The Drake opens the door, the Drakette is sitting on the couch)

Jerry and ElaineHey Drake! Hi Drake!

Jerry:Hey Alison! Hey, there's the TV, Elaine, look at that!

ElaineMy God this is fantastic! Tell me, were you guys just blown away or what?

The DrakeOh yeah, yeah... it's fantastic...

(Jerry sits down next to Alison)

JerryI am gonna make good use of this! I'm watching every superbowl here, every big fight....

ElaineOh man, there is nothing like a really big TV, huh?

JerrySo where're we eatin'?

The DrakeWell, actually... Jerry...

ElaineI'm *really* hungry!

The Drake... we just broke up...

JerryWhen did this happen?

The DrakeAbout 20 minutes ago... Hey, I am really sorry about this guys... whew!

Jerry (looking at the TV): Look at the picture on this thing...

ElaineOh, cristal clear!

JerryThey know how to make 'em...

(The Drake starts sobbing)

ElaineAre there any good Italian restaurants around here?

The Drake (through his sobbing): Gagliano's... that's pretty good...

JerryWell... we should...

ElaineGet movin'...

JerryYeah... Hey, Drake, what ever happens, I am sure it'll be for the best.

ElaineTake it easy. Bye-Bye Alison!

(The Drake is sobbing again, Elaine takes the remote control out the door then returns)

ElaineOh, the remote! Okay, I'm just gonna put it on top of the television...

[at Surgical Appliances]

SalesmanAlright, this one is about 8 years old. Not a scratch on it, it was owned by some lady who only used it to go from the bathroom to the kitchen and to feed her cat.

KramerBut this'll get you around?

SalesmanOh sure, it just doesn't have any of the thrills of the Cougar.

GeorgeLike what?

SalesmanFor example, your tremor-damping.

KramerNow what's that?

SalesmanIt helps to control the direction regardless of the operator's tremors or spasticity.

KramerWell, is it alright if I try it?

SalesmanHop in!

(Kramer sits down, and likes it)

KramerOh yeah!

(Salesman is laughing)

SalesmanI tell ya...

(Kramer crashes into wheelchairs while trying to control his)

SalesmanWhen I see someone enjoying themselves like that, it reminds me why I got into this business in the first place.

GeorgeHow much?

(Kramer crashes into some more wheelchairs)

SalesmanHow about $240?

George & Kramer: We'll take it!

[Jerry's appartment]

ElaineDrake gave her the TV?

JerryHe gave her all the gifts; he felt guilty.

ElaineWell, she can't keep it, it's not fair, that's *our* TV!

JerryI know it is!

ElaineBoy, I am really starting to dislike the Drake!

JerryI hate the Drake! Maybe the whole thing was a scam. Anybody can just get engaged and get presents and just keep them all. Maybe they're on their way to Chicago tomorrow and do the whole thing all over again.

ElaineThey don't know anybody in Chicago.

JerryDon't worry, they'll make friends fast with that nice TV.

(George enters)

GeorgeHey.

JerryHey, guess what? The Drake broke up.

George (excited): The Drake broke up?! That's fantastic! Now we get the TV back! It'll help defray some of the cost of the wheelchair.

JerryI don't know about defraying.

GeorgeWhy?

JerryWe're not gettin' that TV.

GeorgeWhat do you mean? The engagement is off, we get the TV back. That's business.

ElaineThe Drakette took it.

GeorgeShe can't take it. It's not hers, it's theirs. Once there's no theirs there's no hers, it should be ours.

ElaineWell, she has it!

George (upset): I *told* you the Drake was bad! I hate the Drake!

GeorgeMaybe we should call her.

ElaineWell, who's gonna call?

JerryYou are.

ElaineWhat? Why is it me who always has to do these things?

JerryBecause that's your thing!

ElaineWhat? Calling people I hardly know, and demanding they return expensive gifts, that's my "thing"?

JerryYeah, that's your thing.

ElaineAlright, gimme the phone... it's my "thing"...

(Elaine starts dialling)

Jerry (to George): You know, I'm thinking about getting a yo-yo.

GeorgeReally?

JerryYeah.

GeorgeI could see that...

(Alison through phone): Hello?

ElaineAlison! Hi, this is Elaine...

(Alison through phone): I gave all the gifts to charity.

ElaineOh, Okay... well thanks a lot... sorry again about you and the Drake...

(Alison though phone): I hate the Drake.

ElaineEverybody does. Bye-bye....

(Elaine hangs up the phone)

ElaineShe gave it to charity.

JerryCharity?!? That's apalling.

GeorgeHow could anybody be so selfish and inconsiderate!

(Kramer enters)

KramerWell, I gave her the wheelchair! You should have seen the look on her face. And then she told me, that the old wheelchair, that wasn't any good anyway! So you see George, the whole incident was a God blessing! Yeah!

GeorgeYou mean a blessing in disguise?

KramerYeah....

[At George's parents' place]

LadyAnd I would also like to personally thank our gracious host Frank Costanza, who has earned the silver circle award and is our unanimous choice for the United Volunteer Representative of the Month!

(applause)

LadyDue to his tireless effort, he personally raised over $22,000. That's a lot of wheelchairs!

(applause, door bel rings)

LadyOn behalf of the United Volunteers of Greater New York, we thank you!

(Estelle opens the front door, two men walk in)

FrankWell... thank you very much!

CopMr. Costanza?

FrankYes?

CopYou're under arrest.

FrankUnder arrest? What for?

CopReckless endangerment of public safety, and violation of traffic code 342-A.

FrankWhat's that?

CopParking in a handicap spot. Let's go...

FrankGeorge! George!

[Jerry's appartment]

JerryYour father got arrested? For what?

GeorgeParking in a handicap spot. Right in the middle of his United Volunteers meeting. When he got back, he chased after me with a baseball bat.

JerryHo-ly!

GeorgeBetween the car getting totalled, the towing charge and the fine, there's no way I can ever pay him back...

JerrySo what are you gonna do?

GeorgeI agreed to become his butler.

JerryWhat?

(Kramer enters)

JerryWhat's the matter?

KramerIt's over!

JerryWhat's over?

KramerMe and Lola....

GeorgeThe woman we bought the wheelchair for?

KramerYeah, she dumped me!

JerryShe dumped you?

KramerShe dumped me! She rolled right over me! Said I was a hipster dufus. Am I a hipster dufus?

Jerry & George (hesitatingly): ... no...

KramerSaid I'm not good looking enough for her. Not good looking! Jerry, look at me, look at my face, huh, am I beautiful? George, am I beautiful?

George...you're very attractive...

Krameryeah... she says she doesn't wanna see me again. Told me to drop dead!

JerryDrop dead?

GeorgeBoy, even I never heard that one...

JerryShe's pretty rough!

KramerYeesh-jip!

GeorgeWell, we just blew 240 bucks on a wheelchair.

Jerry240 bucks?

GeorgeWell, it was slightly used...

JerryUsed?

[cut to Lola rolling down a hill trying to use her brakes that don't work, screaming]

[George's parents' place]

(George's vaccuuming)

Frank (picking up his shoes): I don't think you did such a good job on these...

(George turns off the vaccuum)

GeorgeWhat!?

FrankYou're supposed to your face there! Do you see your face in there?

(Phone rings)

FrankYeah? ...oh really?...oh... how about that?... Right down a hill huh? Okay! Alight! Bye!

(hangs up the phone)

FrankGeorge, forget about the shoes. Want you to do something for me <em class="inline-stage">(scribbles something on a piece of paper)</em>. This handicapped woman had an accident. Somebody gave her a used wheelchair with defective brakes.

GeorgeSons of bitches!

FrankAnyway, I want you to pick up this big screen TV, and deliver it to her.

GeorgeBig screen TV?

FrankDo you think you can handle it?

[At the Drakette's]

(knock on door, the Drakette opens)

AlisonYes?

GeorgeHi, we're from the United Volunteers, we've come to pick up the TV.

AlisonOh great, it's right over there.

KramerOoh, it's a big one!

{All four inside a delivery van outside the mall)

GeorgeWho's got the receipt?

ElaineI do.

GeorgeWill they give us cash?

JerryThat's their policy.

GeorgeI hate this mall, there are never any spaces here...

KramerWhy don't you park in front of the hydrant?

GeorgeWhat if there is a fire?

KramerWhat are the chances of that?

[END SHOW]