The Engagement (Seinfeld)
"The Engagement" | |
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Seinfeld episode | |
Episode no. |
Season 7 Episode 1 |
Directed by | Andy Ackerman |
Written by | Larry David |
Production code | 701 |
Original air date | September 21, 1995 |
Guest actors | |
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"The Engagement" is the seventh-season opener (along with the 111th overall episode) of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. It aired on September 21, 1995.
Plot
George breaks up with a woman after she beats him in a game of chess. When he tells Jerry about it at Monk's, they both realize that they have done nothing with their lives and decide they are going to make some changes. However, Kramer warns Jerry against marriage. Jerry decides to remain with his singles lifestyle, unbeknownst to George.
Elaine comes in and tells Jerry and Kramer that a barking dog is keeping her from getting a good night's sleep. Kramer says he knows someone who can "fix her problem". They go to see Newman. After seeing Newman's clear dislike of dogs, Elaine becomes unsure, saying she can't allow a dog to be hurt. Kramer assures her they will merely kidnap it and relocate it to the countryside, where it will be happier. Later that night, Elaine, Kramer and Newman rent a van and prepare to steal the dog.
Contemplating his life, George visits the pier and watches various couples who are happy together, kissing, playing with their babies. George shows up at the door of his old girlfriend Susan Ross and asks her to marry him. The next day, George visits Jerry to tell him the news that he and Susan are engaged.
George eagerly inquires how things are with Melanie, but Jerry confesses they broke up; it irritates Jerry that she eats peas one at a time. George is angry as he and Jerry had a pact to change their lives.
Jerry goes to George's apartment and asks if he is ready to go see a movie (Firestorm with Harrison Ford), but George tells him Susan wants to see a different movie (The Muted Heart with Glenn Close and Sally Field). George is already showing signs of regret about his engagement.
At the theater, after the movies, Susan is weeping about the ending of The Muted Heart, while George looks as though he didn't enjoy it. George sees Jerry and his friend Mario Joyner passing them and enthusiastically talking about Firestorm.
Newman returns to the van with the dog (a Yorkshire Terrier) and Elaine is surprised that it is so small. They try to get it to bark to verify if it is the right dog, but with all the attention, the dog doesn't want to bark. Kramer drives them far away from the city, before finally stopping near Monticello. He gets out and leaves the dog at a random doorstep, but it rips off a piece of his shirt (with a tag from Rudy's vintage shop) before he can let it go.
Back home after the movie, Jerry calls George to inform him that a New York Yankees game is being rerun if he wanted to watch it, but Susan wants him to come to bed and watch an episode of Mad About You that she taped. George looks dismal at the prospect.
The dog finds its way back to its home and owner, carrying the piece of Kramer's shirt, and Elaine is again woken up during the night by its barking. The next day, Jerry tells her the news of George's engagement. With the shirt scrap as evidence, police officers visit Kramer and place him under arrest for dognapping. When they knock at Newman's door, he says with aplomb, "What took you so long?" The subplot ends with Kramer, Newman and Elaine sitting in the back of a police car. Elaine decides to make some changes with her life.
The episode ends with George and Susan watching TV. Susan looks happy whereas George looks clearly upset about the engagement.