Vol. 9, No. 17 · 25¢ thefestivusproject.com

THE DAILY NOTHING

April 9, 1998 New York Final Edition
S09E17 · Season 9, Episode 17 of 180

The Bookstore

Jerry spots Uncle Leo shoplifting at Brentano's and reports him to security intending only a scare, but Leo has a prior conviction and now faces prison — Jerry tries to get him off by sacrificing George, who is caught trying to steal a replacement copy of a book the store forced him to buy after he took it into the bathroom. Elaine gets drunk at the Peterman party and makes out with a coworker named Zach to avoid being the office wallflower, then has to pretend they're dating to avoid being the "office skank" — but Peterman reveals Zach is an opium addict and makes Elaine nurse him through withdrawal. Kramer and Newman start a rickshaw service but their only rickshaw gets stolen, and when Kramer loses the counting game to decide who pulls it back, the runaway rickshaw rolls backward down a hill and runs over Zach.

What's The Deal?

George's LieTries to steal a book to replace the bathroom-flagged one
Elaine's BoyfriendZachOpium addict
Elaine's JobJ. Peterman Catalog
Elaine's ThingMakes out with coworker to avoid being office wallflower
Kramer's SchemeRickshaw service with Newman
References
Brentano'sHousing Works
Dark Turn
Uncle Leo faces jail time for shoplifting
Runaway rickshaw runs over Zach

The Full Story

Jerry and George are at a bookstore, Brentano's, where George hopes to meet women. Jerry spots Uncle Leo shoplifting. He confronts Leo about it privately, and Leo promises to return the book, but on a subsequent visit, Jerry sees him shoplifting again. Jerry rats out Leo to the Brentano's security guard, intending only to scare him straight, but because Leo has a prior conviction, he now faces jail time. Jerry apologizes to Uncle Leo, but Leo tells him he never forgets when he's been betrayed. Jerry has nightmares about Leo seeking revenge on him.

George takes a book into the bookstore bathroom and later tries to put it back on a shelf, but the manager says he cannot after the book has been in the bathroom, forcing George to buy it. George tries to return it, but the book has been flagged as being in the bathroom. George tries to donate his book to Housing Works, but even they won't take the marked book. George plans to get even with Brentano's by stealing a copy of the same book and returning it to get his money back. Jerry tries to talk the same manager who caught George into letting Leo off lightly, but the store is having problems with theft, so he needs to "make an example" of someone. Realizing he can sacrifice someone else to save Leo, Jerry rats on George for his attempted shoplifting.

At the annual Peterman party, Elaine is depressed by the other staff showing her up dancing, so she and a man named Zach get drunk and make out at their table. George suggests Elaine tell everyone that she and Zach are dating, so she won't be known as the "office skank". However, she doesn't clear this with Zach, so he openly makes out with another woman. Elaine plans to use his "cheating" as her reason for ending the fake relationship. However, J. Peterman informs her that Zach is an opium addict, and makes Elaine help him quit cold turkey. Elaine gets through it without trouble, and the experience inspires her to pitch a "detox poncho" for the catalog.

Kramer and Newman plan to run a rickshaw service. They interview potential rickshaw pullers; however, one of the candidates steals the rickshaw. Newman and Kramer track it down. Kramer loses the counting-out game to determine who will pull it back. When Kramer gets tired of pulling Newman in the rickshaw up a hill and sets it down to take a break, the rickshaw runs backward over Zach.