S07E21 · EP 131/132
season 7 · May 2, 1996
The Bottle Deposit (1)
written by Gregg Kavet · Andy Robin · directed by Andy Ackerman · 32.4M viewers · image Seinfeld Wiki (CC BY-SA)

Episode DNA

22 scenes · 15 threads
tense 18%scheme 16%absurd 14%pursuit 7%cheerful 6%awkward 4%deal 4%deadpan 3%misunderstanding 3%social rule violation 3%

Story threads over runtime

click a block to open the scene
0:005:0010:0015:0020:00
A · Car Trouble
B · Golf Clubs Auction
C · Bottle Deposit Scheme
D · Mail Truck Scheme
E · Payroll Project
F · Car Maintenance
G · Mother's Day
H · Golf Clubs
I · Project Success
J · Memory Loss
K · Car Theft
L · Mail Truck Ambush
M · Golf Club Chase
N · George's Breakdown
O · Newman's Farm
01

Every scene

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

Jerry talks about car mechanics

00:03–00:39lie · scheme
3 · J. Peterman catalog office · act1Elaine's Task

Elaine agrees to bid on JFK's golf clubs

01:11–02:29deal · bet
4 ▸ 02:29
4 · Jerry's apartment · act1Kramer's Scheme

Kramer discusses the Michigan bottle deposit scam

02:29–04:28scheme · escalation
5 · Auction house · act2Auction Encounter

Elaine meets Sue Ellen at the auction

04:28–05:20rivalry · petty_grievance
6 · Auction house · act3Auction Chaos

Elaine bids on the golf clubs

05:20–07:19betrayal · comeuppance
9 ▸ 07:59
9 · Tony's garage · act1Car Inspection

Tony inspects Jerry's car

07:59–09:47escalation · coincidence
12 ▸ 12:21
12 · street · act3Mail Truck Scheme

Newman's plan is revealed

12:21–14:58scheme · coincidence
13 ▸ 14:58
13 · Monk's Cafe · cold_openDowntown Song

Jerry sings about going downtown

14:58–15:43scheme · social_rule_violation
15 · Jerry's apartment · act1Car Trouble Call

Jerry gets a call about his car

17:25–17:37scheme · misunderstanding
17 ▸ 18:18
17 · Mechanic's shop · act2Car Dispute

Jerry disputes with Tony

18:18–20:10scheme · social_rule_violation
18 · Various · act3Investigation and Resolution

Detective investigates the car theft

20:10–23:22investigation · negotiation
19 ▸ 23:22
19 · Police Station · act1Police Investigate Car

Police examine a destroyed car

23:22–25:18scheme · misunderstanding
20 · Truck · act1Bottle Collection

Kramer and Newman collect bottles

25:18–26:09scheme · pursuit
21 · Jerry's Apartment · act1Jerry Talks to Tony

Jerry talks to Tony about his car

26:09–26:32scheme · betrayal
22 · Truck · act2Kramer and Newman Follow Jerry's Car

Kramer and Newman follow Jerry's car

26:32–26:39pursuit · scheme
24 · Office · act3George's Boss Confronts Him

George's boss confronts him about his behavior

28:32–31:05misunderstanding · scheme
25 · Farm · cold_openNewman's Mail Truck

Newman's mail truck is ambushed

31:05–33:29scheme · misunderstanding
26 ▸ 33:29
26 · Street · act1Golf Club Chase

Kramer chases Newman

33:29–34:48pursuit · escalation
27 ▸ 34:48
27 · Street · act1Chase Continues

Kramer and Jerry lose Newman

34:48–35:35pursuit · coincidence
28 ▸ 35:35
28 · Farm · act2Newman's Farm Visit

Newman enjoys farm food

35:35–36:48social_rule_violation · seduction
29 · Mental Institution · act2George's Breakdown

George is in a mental institution

36:48–37:57breakup · humiliation
30 · J. Peterman catalog office · act3Elaine Finds Golf Clubs

Elaine finds the golf clubs

37:57–39:21deal · coincidence
03

Same DNA

nearest episodes by gene profile
04

Collect this episode

live eBay listings
Listings from eBay; SceneClip earns a commission on purchases.

Episode facts

Wikipedia · Wikidata
Aired
May 2, 1996
Overall
#131/132
Writers
Gregg Kavet · Andy Robin
Director
Andy Ackerman
Viewers
32.4M (US)
Pace
126 words/min · 179 questions

Where to watch

sponsored
NFLX
Stream all 9 seasonsNetflix · subscription
Watch
BD
The Complete SeriesBlu-ray / DVD box set
Shop
EP
The Bottle Deposit (1)Digital purchase
Buy
Links may earn SceneClip a commission. Illustrative availability.