Episode 3 - The Robbery

The Plot:  There were multiple story lines, but the primary plot centers around Jerry being out on tour and leaving Elaine staying at his apartment while he’s gone.  Elaine is looking to avoid her nutty roommate, Tina, so is happy to stay at Jerry’s.  Jerry returns from the road to find his apartment has been robbed as a result of Kramer leaving the door open.  Seinfeld goes on a great rant about the expensive lock he purchased for his apartment.  A lock that has only one fatal flaw – you have to actually close the door for it to work.  After the robbery, Jerry gets George to find him a new apartment.  George shows him an incredible place with a terrace and a walk-in closet, which Jerry decides to take, prompting Elaine to sublease Jerry’s old apartment.  Jerry, sensing that George really wanted the apartment for himself, engages in a coin flip and then a game of “odds or evens” for the place, which Jerry eventually wins.  Despite winning the contest, Jerry still feels guilty and ultimately decides against moving, allowing a waitress from Monks to take the place.

Fun Facts:

·         The episode was inspired by a real life robbery of Jerry’s apartment while he was in college.

·         Elaine’s roommate Tina is first mentioned, but does not appear in the episode.

·         This was the first episode with Kramer's trademark entrance into Jerry's apartment.

Favorite Quote:   Kramer: How can you not have insurance?

                             Jerry:  Because I spent my money on the Clapco 8000. It's the most powerful lock
                                         they make. It has only one design flaw ... the door ... must be closed!

Favorite Scene:  While Jerry is bitching about Kramer leaving the door open, George comes strolling into the apartment without being buzzed in.  When Jerry asks him how he got in, he crosses his arms, bobs his head and blinks his eyes like the title character in I Dream of Jeannie.

The Lesson:  Unforeseen events often push entrepreneurs in a direction they never intended and the ripple effects of those course changes can have real impact not just on the individual, but those around him/her.  In this episode, the robbery causes Jerry to think about moving, which causes Elaine to think about moving, which causes George to think about moving, when none of them had thought about it before.  When Jerry backs out, the domino effect forces Elaine and George to fall back to their old places as well.  Startup companies are often presented with opportunities they did not expect.  A great sales opportunity can force a company to suspend certain activities and focus all of their limited resources on this once in a lifetime area.  If the company succeeds, it can change the trajectory of the company in a positive way.  If they swing and miss, not only have they lost that opportunity, but they have sacrificed in other areas that may be difficult to get back on track.  In short, sometimes long term growth is based on something as simple as remembering to lock the door.