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The Foundation

‘The Foundation’

Season 8, Episode 1 -  Aired September 19, 1996

As George tries to move on from Susan's death, her family set up a charitable foundation in her name. Elaine takes charge of the J. Peterman company. Meanwhile, Jerry is surprised when an old girlfriend is interested in him after he called off his engagement. 

Quote from Elaine

Elaine: Well, Mr. Peterman, I've got a really good idea for a hat.
J. Peterman: [rubbing his neck] Oh, my neck is one gargantuan monkey fist.
Elaine: It combines the spirit of old Mexico with a little big city panache. I like to call it the Urban Sombrero.
J. Peterman: No, no. No pears.
Elaine: Are you okay, Mr. Peterman?
J. Peterman: Yes, yes. Go on, go on, go on.
Elaine: Well, see, it's... businessmen taking siestas. You know, it's the, uh, the Urban Sombrero. [Peterman walks out, groaning] Mr. Peterman?

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Quote from J. Peterman

Elaine: [answers phone] Hello, Mr. Peterman, how are you feeling?
J. Peterman: Elaine, I'll be blunt. I'm burnt out. I'm fried. My mind is as barren as the surface of the moon. I can run that catalog no longer.
Elaine: What? Well, who's gonna do it?
J. Peterman: What about you?
Elaine: Me? Why me?
J. Peterman: Why, indeed.
Elaine: Mr. Peterman, you can't leave.
J. Peterman: I've already left, Elaine. I'm in Burma.
Elaine: Burma?
J. Peterman: You most likely know it as Myanmar. But it will always be Burma to me. Bonne chance, Elaine. [to a passerby] You there on the motorbike! Sell me one of your melons!

Quote from George

Mrs. Ross: We know the last three months have been hard on you.
George: Oh, yes, yes, yes. Very, very hard.
Mr. Ross: And they've been hard on us, too. It's a terrible tragedy when parents outlive their children.
George: Yes, I agree. I hope my parents go long before I do.

Quote from Jerry

George: What were you saying to the Rosses over there, anyway?
Jerry: Oh, I don't know. I told them, "Her death takes place in the shadow of new life. She's not really dead if we find a way to remember her."
George: What is that?
Jerry: Star Trek II.
George: Wrath of Khan!
Jerry: Right. Kramer and I saw it last night. Spock dies and they wrap him up in a towel, and they shoot him out the bowel of the ship in that big sunglasses case.
George: That was a hell of a thing when Spock died.
Jerry: Yeah.

Quote from Kramer

Kramer: What's wrong?
Elaine: Oh, Peterman ran off to Burma, and now he wants me to run the catalog.
Kramer: Where?
Jerry: Myanmar.
Kramer: Is that the discount pharmacy?

Quote from Jerry

George: Boy, that was awkward.
Jerry: I don't mind the cemetery. In fact, now I see why people like golf. It's just nice to be outside in a well-landscaped area.

Quote from George

George: Well, anyway, the, uh. The stone is up. I paid my respects. I guess that's it.
Jerry: So it's over?
George: I have mourned for three long months! Summer months, too! Anybody could grieve in January. It's time for George to start being George again.
Jerry: All right, so uh, let's do something later. How about a movie?
George: Yes! Nothing says George like a movie.

Quote from Jerry

Jerry: There's really not that much to tell. [v.o.] About a month ago, we were here having lunch, when all of a sudden we both just blurted out...
[flashback:]
Jerry & Jeannie: I hate you!
Jeannie: See you.
Jerry: See you.
[present:]
Jerry: It was unprecedented. I mean, it was the first truly mutual breakup in relationship history. No rejection, no guilt, no remorse.
Elaine: You've never felt remorse.
Jerry: I know, I feel bad about that...
Elaine: I bet your parents were upset, huh?
Jerry: Eh.
Elaine: You haven't told them yet, have you?
Jerry: No.

Quote from George

George: I tell you, Jerry, I'm feeling something. Something I haven't felt in a long time.
Jerry: Pride?
George: No. Autonomy, complete and total autonomy.
Jerry: Well, you're your own boss now.
George: I wanna go to a tractor pull.
Jerry: Go ahead.
George: I am staying out all night.
Jerry: Who's stopping you?
George: I wanna bite into a big hunk of cheese, just bite into it like it's an apple.
Jerry: Whatever.

Quote from Elaine

Dugan: You're taking the job?
Elaine: You got that straight. Now, I want four new ideas from each of you by 6:00. No, make that six ideas by 4:00. All right, let's move, move, move, move, move!

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