Unproduced SEINFELD \"The Gun\" (aka \"The Bet\") script Larry Charles notes Reprint For Sale

And it has Larry Charles’ handwritten notes on it (some are illegible)

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.

From the SEINFELD wiki:

“The Bet”(also known asThe 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 Benesbets againstJerry Seinfeldon the ease of buying a handgun to protect herself. In a subplot,Cosmo Kramerreturns from a vacation in Puerto Rico and tells Jerry andGeorge Costanzathat 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, andBobbi Jo Lathanwas cast as flight attendantLucy MerritandErnie Sabellawas cast as gun salesmanMo 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? TheKennedy? [holds the gun to her stomach] TheMcKinley?\" (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.