Saving the images and description in case it doesn't sell.
This is the real deal, folks. The legendary unproduced SEINFELD script cast and crew refused to shoot
And it has Larry Charles’ handwritten notes on it
So legendary that it's known by a pseudnonym--it's "The Gun" on the title page (see photos), but referred to in articles as "The Bet"
Not only do you get to read the script, you get to see how Larry thinks, how he writes and rewrites
A rare script, and a rare chance to get inside the head of a bearded genius
The episode dealt with the question of whether Elaine should buy a gun, and included the very SEINFELD-esque dark humor that you know and love
The great thing about living in Hollywood is that friends give you things that get lost in your storage unit for 20 years. Such as this script.
See photos for details, and please feel free to DM me any questions
Please note this is a *photocopy* of the script with Larry's notes. He did not write on this copy.
Script will be shipped Priority mail, insured, in an envelope sandwiched between two pieces of cardboard, then bubble wrap, then a box within a box
From the SEINFELD wiki:
“The Bet” (also known as The Gun) is an unproduced episode for Season 2. It was not made due to its controversial subject. It would have been the fourth episode of season 2, and would have aired on February 13, 1991. It was replaced by "The Phone Message".
Known Plot
In the episode, Elaine Benes bets against Jerry Seinfeld on the ease of buying a handgun to protect herself. In a subplot, Cosmo Kramer returns from a vacation in Puerto Rico and tells Jerry and George Costanza that he had sex with a flight attendant during the flight back. George makes a bet with him and goes to the airport with Jerry and Elaine to ask the flight attendant if Kramer's allegation is true.
Production
The episode was written by Larry Charles to make a funny "dark-themed" episode, using elements that were unusual in sitcoms.
Sets for the episode were built, and Bobbi Jo Lathan was cast as flight attendant Lucy Merrit and Ernie Sabella was cast as gun salesman Mo Korn, who was described in the script as "overweight, greasy, slow and low-key".
The table reading of the episode was held on Wednesday, December 12, 1990.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus stated, "I read the script and I remember thinking, 'We're not going to do this.'"
According to Alexander, when she read a scene in which she holds the gun to her head stating, "Where do you want it, Jerry? The Kennedy? [holds the gun to her stomach] The McKinley?" (referencing the assassination of the two American presidents), Louis-Dreyfus turned to Alexander, stating, "I'm not doing this."
Both Alexander and Cherones, who would direct the episode, felt that the gun content in the story was too provocative. Richards was concerned that his character would be open about arming Elaine, though in a later interview he stated, "Although, why not? I think Kramer could justify the use of a weapon."
The cast began rehearsing, but after 20 minutes stopped and turned to Cherones, who agreed to talk to Charles. While on his way to Charles' office, Cherones met NBC executive Glenn Padnick and informed him about the cast's reaction to the episode. Cherones said that Padnick was relieved to hear this, and they both discussed the problem with Charles, and decided not to use the script.
Commenting on the episode, Charles stated, "You know, it would have been an interesting show, but [...] we couldn't solve the funny problem of it. It never seemed to quite be as funny as it should be and, because of that, the balance was off and the darkness kind of enveloped it, and it could never really emerge from that darkness and become what it should have been. So, it was disappointing but also understandable."
The replacement episode, "The Phone Message", was written by David and Seinfeld in two days.
Notes About Nothing
Given the nature of the show, "The Bet" is most likely not the only unproduced episode, although it is the most infamous.It is also probably the only one that was partially filmed.
The listing is still up, but seems to be an "first come first served" situation.
This could be our only chance to recover this lost piece of media until it is gone forever. We should try to sound off all of the sources we have before we are too late, and ends up in the hands of another greedy collector.
The listing is still up, but seems to be an "first come first served" situation.
This could be our only chance to recover this lost piece of media until it is gone forever. We should try to sound off all of the sources we have before we are too late, and ends up in the hands of another greedy collector.
When it comes to items like this, naturally the buyer wouldn't be as willing to dump photocopies of it online due to it's high price and seemingly the high demand for it. While I don't agree with what they do I can at least understand where they're coming from.
This is great to see! I don't remember hearing about this at all. While reading the script from the pictures posted on eBay, I still found myself laughing out loud. I would have LOVED to have this this episode.
