Vol. 9, No. 8 · 25¢ thefestivusproject.com

THE DAILY NOTHING

November 20, 1997 New York Final Edition
S09E08 · Season 9, Episode 8 of 180

The Betrayal

The entire episode runs backwards — opening with the aftermath of Sue Ellen Mischke's wedding in India and ending with Kramer moving into Jerry's building years earlier — as George gets Jerry to set him up with ex-girlfriend Nina, Jerry and Nina accidentally sleep together, and Elaine drunkenly reveals this to George on the flight to India. Elaine RSVPs to Sue Ellen's wedding purely to spite her after receiving what she assumes is a deliberately late "unvitation," but Sue Ellen is so grateful anyone showed up that she makes Elaine her maid of honor — until Elaine lets slip during the ceremony that she slept with the groom back when he was going by "Peter," and George repeats it loud enough for every guest to hear. Kramer has been living under a death wish from Franklin Delano Romanowski since hitting him with a snowball, and the two spend the episode competing via shooting stars, fountains, eyelashes, and wishbones until Kramer agrees to let FDR hit him with a snowball to cancel the curse.

What's The Deal?

George's GirlfriendNinaGeorge must wear Timberland boots to be eye-to-eye with her
Elaine's JobJ. Peterman Catalog
Elaine's ThingMade maid of honor at Sue Ellen's wedding, then ruins it
Kramer's SchemeFighting FDR's death wish with competing wishes
References
Timberland
Dark Turn
The entire episode runs in reverse chronology

The Full Story

This episode presents a backwards narrative, running from the final scene to the first scene.

Jerry and George run into Nina, an old girlfriend of Jerry's with whom he never slept, because they had such conversational chemistry that there was never an awkward pause during which something could happen. George has Jerry set him up on a date with Nina, and feels he must wear his Timberland boots every time he sees her, because they elevate him such that he and Nina are eye-to-eye. Jerry and Nina suffer an awkward pause in their conversation, leading them to have sex. When Elaine finds out, he makes her promise to not tell George.

Elaine receives an invitation to Sue Ellen Mischke's wedding to Pinter Ranawat in India. Given the late arrival of the invitation, Elaine assumes it is an "unvitation" and that Sue Ellen does not want her to come. Elaine meets Pinter's parents, Usha and Zubin Ranawat, who advise her not to go to the wedding; they are not going themselves. To spite Sue Ellen, Elaine buys tickets to India for herself, Jerry, George, and Nina. Noticing Elaine's evasive behavior, George gets her drunk on schnapps. While under the influence, Elaine reveals Jerry and Nina's encounter to George, prompting the latter to snipe at Jerry during the flight to India.

Elaine, Jerry, George and Nina arrive in India, where Elaine recognizes Pinter as an ex-lover who was going by "Peter" at the time. Sue Ellen is so happy that Elaine came when none of her other invitees showed that she asks Elaine to be her maid of honor. Touched, Elaine reconciles with Sue Ellen and resolves not to let her find out about her affair with Pinter. Jerry gets Elaine drunk on schnapps to find out why George is acting bitterly towards him.

George and Jerry bicker over Nina during the wedding ceremony. While lecturing them to keep quiet, Elaine mentions her affair with Pinter. Amused by the revelation, George repeats it loudly enough for everyone to hear. Sue Ellen calls her wedding off, and ends her friendship with Elaine. George demands Nina choose between him and Jerry; she declares she is not interested in either man, and only came for a free trip to India.

Kramer attends Franklin Delano Romanowski (FDR)'s birthday, and FDR gives him "the evil eye" right before blowing out the candles on his cake. FDR reveals that his wish was for Kramer to drop dead, because Kramer hit him with a snowball two years before. Kramer negotiates for Newman to use his birthday wish to protect him from dropping dead, but he instead wishes for a date with a supermodel, which comes true. Newman's new girlfriend suggests Kramer counter the wish himself. Kramer and FDR try to out-wish each other by wishing on a shooting star, throwing coins in a fountain, pulling out eyelashes, and pulling a wishbone. Kramer finally persuades FDR to retract his wish in exchange for letting FDR hit him with a snowball.