Vol. 9, No. 19 · 25¢ thefestivusproject.com

THE DAILY NOTHING

April 30, 1998 New York Final Edition
S09E19 · Season 9, Episode 19 of 180

The Maid

Jerry starts sleeping with his maid Cindy, who stops cleaning but still takes the money he leaves out — when he points out the implications, she quits, and her boss Maxwell threatens to expose Jerry's fastidious cleaning requests unless he pays up, which Jerry does while a police cruiser mistakes the exchange for solicitation. George campaigns for the nickname "T-Bone" at Kruger Industrial Smoothing by ordering T-bone steaks at every meal, but a coworker beats him to it — his tantrum earns him "Koko" instead, and when he hires a woman named Coco to force a name conflict, Kruger resolves it by renaming George "Gammy." Elaine gets a 646 area code that makes prospective dates treat her like she lives in another state, inherits a dead neighbor's 212 number, pretends to be the neighbor's grandmother for weeks until she snaps and tells the grandson she's dying — prompting the kid to call 911 and firefighters to break down her door.

What's The Deal?

Jerry's GirlfriendCindyHis maid who stops cleaning but keeps taking money after they sleep together
George's JobKruger Industrial Smoothing
Elaine's JobJ. Peterman Catalog
Elaine's ThingGets 646 area code that prospective dates treat like long distance
Kramer's SchemeSigns Elaine up for restaurant fax service using her number
References
Now We're Cookin' fax serviceKokoKenny Rogers
Dark Turn
Jerry arrested for suspected prostitution

Before its time: 646 area code treated like long distance

The Full Story

Jerry hires a maid, Cindy, with whom he then starts having sex. On one visit Cindy leaves without getting around to any work, but still takes the money he left for her, which Jerry realizes could be considered prostitution. He stops leaving money for Cindy, and when she demands money on her next visit, he points out that she didn't do any work. Angered, she walks out on the job and the relationship. Cindy's boss Maxwell demands that Jerry pay Cindy for this last visit, threatening to publicly expose Jerry's fastidious cleaning requests and make Cindy pay for the visit. Wanting to avoid trouble, Jerry agrees to pay her.

George tries to get a nickname at work, T-Bone, by ordering a T-bone steak for lunch and talking about how much he likes T-bones, but a co-worker makes the same order and gets the nickname instead. George tries reasoning with T-Bone to get the nickname. When this doesn't work, George throws a fit, yelling, crying, and flailing around with a banana in his hand until T-bone agrees to surrender the nickname. However, after witnessing this scene, his coworkers nickname George "Koko" in reference to the gorilla who was taught sign language. George hires a woman named Coco as vice president of acquisitions; Kruger states there should not be two Koko/Cocos, and George goes back to being George again, much to his satisfaction. However, when Coco mentions her Gammy, Kruger is inspired to give George the nickname "Gammy".

Kramer signs up to receive restaurant menus by fax with a service called "Now We're Cookin'", but uses Elaine's phone number, mistakenly thinking she had a fax machine. Annoyed by the nonstop calls from the fax service, Elaine changes her phone number and gets one with the new 646 area code, so callers have to dial 1-646 in addition to her seven digit number. She gives her number to a prospective date, but when he sees the 646 area code, he says he is already in a relationship and walks off. When her neighbor Mrs. Krantz dies, Elaine gets Mrs. Krantz’s old 212 number. Krantz's grandson Bobby keeps calling the number, because his parents are reluctant to break it to him that his grandmother is dead. Elaine pretends to be Bobby's grandmother for a few weeks; then, fed up with his parents' irresponsibility, she tells Bobby she is dying and hangs up. Bobby dials 9-1-1 and firefighters beat down Elaine's door.

Kramer's girlfriend moves downtown, leading him to struggle with the drawbacks of a "long-distance relationship". He breaks up with her when she refuses to move, and he gets lost on the Lower East Side. Jerry goes to pick him up, spots Cindy, and slows down to give her her money. A patrolling NYPD unit mistakes her for a prostitute and arrests them. Still waiting for Jerry, Kramer is approached by Maxwell and talked into a maid job.