S03E02 · EP 19
season 3 · 1991-09-25
The Truth
written by ? · directed by ? · 16.7M viewers · image Seinfeld Wiki (CC BY-SA)

Episode DNA

22 scenes · 3 threads
awkward 14%deadpan 12%tense 10%absurd 10%social rule violation 7%confession 6%scheme 5%petty grievance 5%humiliation 5%coincidence 4%

Story threads over runtime

click a block to open the scene
0:005:0010:0015:0020:00
A · Audit & Papers
B · George Breakup
C · Kramer & Tina
01

Every scene

22 scenes · our breakdown
1 · Comedy Club · cold_openJerry Stand-up Buttons

Jerry performs stand-up about the absurdity of extra buttons on clothing.

00:03–00:48petty_grievance
2 · Restaurant · act1George Dates Patrice

George dines with Patrice who discusses her papier-mâché hat passion.

00:48–01:03social_rule_violation · petty_grievance
3 · Jerry's apartment · act1Jerry Audit Receipts

Jerry and Kramer sort receipts for Jerry's IRS audit over Krakatoa donation.

01:03–01:40scheme · lie
4 ▸ 01:40
4 · Jerry's apartment · act1Kramer Strains Sauce

Kramer strains tomato sauce in Jerry's sink annoying Elaine.

01:40–02:13petty_grievance · social_rule_violation
5 ▸ 02:13
5 · Jerry's apartment · act1Tribal Music Complaint

Elaine tells Kramer that Tina requested he stop tribal music and couch make-out sessions.

02:13–03:03social_rule_violation · petty_grievance
6 · Jerry's apartment · act1Elaine Learns Audit

Elaine discovers Jerry is being audited because of Kramer's charity.

03:03–04:03coincidence · scheme
7 ▸ 04:03
7 · Jerry's apartment · act1Jerry Explains Plan

Jerry explains to Elaine that George is dating a former IRS agent who will handle the audit.

04:03–06:35scheme · deal
8 · Restaurant · act1George Arrives at Jerry's

George arrives at Jerry's apartment and Jerry comments on his situation.

06:35–06:50confession · breakup
9 ▸ 06:50
9 · Jerry's apartment · act1Jerry Fears Audit

Jerry expresses extreme anxiety about the audit and says he would have strangled Kramer.

06:50–07:28threat · obsession
10 · Jerry's apartment · act2George Admits Breakup

George arrives, reveals breakup, and realizes Patrice took the audit papers.

07:28–10:32confession · betrayal
11 · Jerry's apartment · act2Kramer Windshield Table

Kramer shows Jerry a found windshield he'll turn into a coffee table for Tina.

10:32–11:01scheme · misunderstanding
12 · Jerry's apartment · act2Kramer Saw Elaine Naked

Kramer accidentally saw Elaine naked; offers to let her see him naked.

11:01–12:44humiliation · social_rule_violation
13 · Jerry's apartment · act2Naked Negotiation Fails

Kramer insists on showing himself naked; Jerry protects his privacy.

12:44–13:36social_rule_violation · humiliation
14 · Jerry's apartment · act2Patrice in Depression Clinic

George reveals Patrice checked into a depression clinic in Woodhaven.

13:36–14:00coincidence · escalation
15 · Comedy Club · act2Stand-up Naked Belts

Jerry performs stand-up about discomfort of nudity and desire for belt pockets.

14:00–14:28
16 ▸ 14:28
16 · Jerry's apartment · act2Plan to Visit Clinic

Jerry and George decide to visit Patrice at the clinic for the papers.

14:28–15:29pursuit · avoidance
17 · Depression Clinic · act3Clinic Confrontation

Jerry and George meet Patrice at the depression clinic; she threw papers away.

15:29–16:39confession · betrayal
18 ▸ 16:39
18 · Depression Clinic · act3Patrice Rejects George

Patrice dismisses George's apology and questions his motives.

16:39–17:25humiliation · confession
19 ▸ 17:25
19 · Depression Clinic · act3George Asks for Papers

George pivots to asking Patrice about the pocketbook with tax papers.

17:25–18:56confession · scheme
20 · Elaine's apartment · act3Kramer Crashes Table

Kramer and Tina crash into the invisible coffee table in the dark.

18:56–19:03scheme · violence
21 · Jerry's apartment · act3Jerry Finds Receipt

Jerry tracks down 1987 computer receipt; Elaine and Kramer leave for hospital.

19:03–21:29pursuit · coincidence
22 · Comedy Club · tagStand-up Audit Drum

Jerry closes with stand-up about IRS audit ordeal and sweepstakes drum idea.

21:29–21:33
03

Same DNA

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04

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Episode facts

Wikipedia · Wikidata
Aired
1991-09-25
Overall
#19
Writers
Director
Viewers
16.7M (US)
Pace
123 words/min · 124 questions

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