This is a scanned teleplay of a Seinfeld episode written by Larry Charles. This episode would end up being unproduced due to the cast and crew’s concerns about the episode’s subject matter. Any handwriting on this scan is from Larry Charles.

https://seinfeld.fandom.com/wiki/The_Bet

“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”.

  • abc [he/him, comrade/them]
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    262 months ago

    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.”

    Julia Louis-Dreyfus post VEEP would’ve done it and it would’ve won an Primetime Emmy.

  • booty [he/him]
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    162 months ago

    I don’t feel like reading an entire seinfeld episode script, what’s it about and what made it so controversial?

  • RyanGosling [none/use name]
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    2 months ago

    Kramer and Newman become sovereign citizen gun nuts. They sell guns to jerry, George and Elaine

    George becomes obsessed with his gun and plays with it every second. He tries gun play during sex and accidentally shoots himself in the dark

    Jerry doesn’t really have an opinion until some kids pretend to shoot him while they’re playing army, after which he hates guns out of spite

    Elaine tries to solve all her problems by flashing her gun all the time. Eventually she’s wanted by the police but runs away and hide

    George, pissed after shooting himself, comes to Jerry’s apartment to sell his gun and sees Elaine there with her gun. Kramer and newman barge in with their rifles, notifies everyone that cops are coming because one of the tenants saw “a short angry man muttering to himself while holding a gun.”

    A Waco-like siege occurs at Jerry’s apartment