Episode 36 - The Limo

The Plot:  Again, it just takes the one simple phrase to identify the episode to fans.  Jerry’s, “She’s a Nazi George” is a highlight. 

Jerry flies in from Chicago and George arrives to take him home. His car has broken down on the Belt Parkway and the two are stranded. Jerry points out a limousine chauffeur with a sign for someone named O'Brien. Jerry had seen an O'Brien in Chicago complaining to the airport staff that he had to reach Madison Square Garden. Since the real O'Brien's flight is overbooked and he will not be arriving in New York, George tells Jerry that since it is such a long wait to get a cab, they should pose as O'Brien and his colleague and take the limo home. George chooses the first name Colin and assumes the identity of O'Brien, as Jerry makes up the name Dylan Murphy. The chauffeur believes them and lets them into the limo and then informs them that they will be heading to Madison Square Garden and that they have four passes for the night. George remembers the Knicks are playing the Bulls that night at the Garden, which must be why O'Brien wanted to get there. Jerry calls up Elaine and tells her to wait with Kramer for them to pick them up for the game, and also tells her to call him and George by their pseudonyms.

After the call, Jerry and George learn that two of the people the passes were intended for are still coming. The chauffeur stops and a man, Tim, and a woman, Eva, get in with them. George feigns sleep and Jerry introduces himself. Eva and Tim tell Jerry that they are great fans of O'Brien's newsletter and book, The Game, neither of which has he heard of. Luckily, the two have never seen a picture of O'Brien and have no way of knowing who George really is.

As Kramer and Elaine wait outside the apartment building, Jerry mentions that they will probably miss the tip-off, and Tim wonders if he means "someone's been tipped off." George, interested about the book he supposedly wrote, asks Eva to describe her view of it. She and Tim cite the book's analysis of something called "the game," all its major players, and how the fate of the world depends on it. Eva mentions that O'Brien is making a speech that night, and George nervously reads a faxed copy of it for the first time. Kramer mentions how strange it is that George and Jerry took a limo when they had the former's car, and wonders why they insist on being called different names.

George reads O'Brien's speech and finds to his and Jerry's dismay that it is full of remarks expounding antisemitism, anti-Zionism and white supremacy. As he continues it, a loud bang is heard outside. Tim pulls out a pistol and exits the car. Eva tells George that she would do anything for him, even die. Tim comes back and says it was just a flat tire. He then adds if someone really were shooting at them, he would be prepared, and pulls out a briefcase of pistols. A news report reveals that Donald O'Brien, head of the regional chapter of the Aryan Union, a high-profile Neo-Nazi organization, is scheduled to make his first public appearance at the Paramount, adjacent to MSG, to deliver the speech at a rally. He is an outspoken Neo-Nazi, admirer of Adolf Hitler, and passionate fascist  Crowd control officers have lined up several barricades to keep away hordes of protesters.

On the street, Kramer and Elaine run into her friend Dan and his friends, who tell them they are going to the Nazi rally to protest O'Brien. He then mentions no one knows what O'Brien looks like. As George explains to Jerry that he is attracted to Eva, they plan to have the limo drive back to the Upper West Side and get out when they see Elaine and Kramer, who realizes that Jerry must be the O'Brien at the rally, which explains the limo. As it drives past them, Kramer sees Jerry and shouts, "O'Brien!" This attracts other protestors across the street standing at a bus stop. As Kramer and Elaine dive through the door and they chase the limo down the street, the phone rings. Kramer picks it up and hands it to Eva. She listens for a few seconds and tells the others, "It's O'Brien." Tim pulls out his gun and demands that George and Jerry say who they really are, and Jerry and George, and later Elaine, all rapidly (and nervously) attempt to explain themselves at the same time. The car pulls up to the Paramount and the protesters begin rocking it. Dan notices Elaine as one of the passengers, and she awkwardly acknowledges him. George is placed in front of the news teams identified as Donald O'Brien, and the protesters horde around him as he frantically denies being O'Brien and shouts for Jerry.

Fun Facts:

• Eva is obviously a reference to Hitler’s girlfriend, Eva Braun.
• The woman that plays Eva, Suzanne Snyder, returns in Season 5 as Poppie’s daughter.
• In a reference to late 1980’s and early 1990’s American politics, O’Brien is supposedly too controversial for David Duke, a former KKK member who was elected to the Louisiana State Legislature and ran unsuccessfully for President in both the Democratic (88) and Republican (92) primaries.

Favorite Quote:   

Kramer: Don't you see? There's always been something very strange about Jerry, always so clean and organized. Do I have to spell it out for you? The limo? The name? The rally at Madison Square Garden? Jerry, O'Brien are the same person. Jerry is the leader of the Aryan Union!
Elaine: Jerry's a Nazi?!
Kramer: I can't believe I didn't see it.
Elaine: Listen, you idiot! Just calm down! I know Jerry, he's not a Nazi.
Kramer: You don't think so?
Elaine: No, he's just neat.

Favorite Scene:   George and Jerry are in the back of the limo and George is like a little kid.  He’s so excited he can’t sit still.  He decides to call his Mom and tell him what he’s done and in typical Costanza fashion, the entire call goes horribly wrong:

George: This is incredible! This is one of the greatest things I've ever done in my life! I'm gonna call my mother.

Jerry: What for?

George: I dunno, I'm in a limo. (dials) Hello ma? It's me. Guess where I am.  In the back of a limo. No, nobody died. It's a long story, I can't tell you now. Because I can't. I said I can't. If I could, I would. Would you stop it? Alright, look, I'm getting off. No, I'm not telling you! How's this? I'm never telling you! I don't care! No! Fine! Never!!
Jerry: She happy for you?

The Lesson:  I think I remember why I stopped this Blog prior to this episode.  How do you derive a lesson for entrepreneurs out of a mixup in which someone is mistaken for a Nazi?  Hmmm.  Well, here it goes:

In the early stages of most startups, it is difficult to truly define your company and explain it to people in a way that can be clearly understood.  Oftentimes, people come away from interactions with startups, with a wildly different take on the business than that of the founder.  It is important when starting a business, to take some time and practice explaining what it is you are trying to build.  As silly as it may sound, take some time to practice in front of a mirror or in front of a camera.  Try to tell the audience what you do and why they should be intrigued within 30 seconds.

Don’t focus on buzzwords or things you think your audience wants to hear.  Focus solely on the vision you have created for the business and how you can communicate that vision clearly and concisely so that all who have heard you, understand what you have built.  Trying to be something you are not, letting someone believe you are something you are not, probably won’t end up with people calling you a Nazi, but it will end up with people having unreal expectations for your company and failing to appreciate the progress you make along the way.