The Burning (Seinfeld)

"The Burning (Seinfeld)"

"The Burning" is the 172nd episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld starring Cindy Ambuehl as Jerry's girlfriend Sophie. This was the 16th episode for the 9th and final season. It aired on March 19, 1998.

Plot

Elaine thinks that boyfriend David Puddy may be religious after finding Christian stations set on his rental car radio. At the coffee shop, George laments to Jerry about losing respect at a project meeting led by Mr. Kruger after following a good suggestion with a lame joke. Jerry suggests that George use the Vegas showmanship trick of "walking off" after a high note. Elaine tells George and Jerry about her suspicions with Puddy. George tells her to alter his radio presets as a test. Kramer and Mickey Abbott get an acting gig playing sick for some medical students. Jerry's girlfriend Sophie calls him with the "it's me" greeting, but he does not recognize her voice. At the next Kruger meeting, George takes Jerry's suggestion and actually leaves the room after a well-received joke. For their acting job, Mickey and Kramer are assigned bacterial meningitis and gonorrhea, respectively. Elaine confirms that Puddy is religious. Kramer picks up on the showmanship idea and gives an impressive theatrical performance of gonorrhea for the med students. When Sophie uses the unwelcome "it's me" greeting on Jerry's answering machine, George suggests he return the favor when he calls back. Sophie does not recognize Jerry's voice. Thinking that Jerry is a friend named "Ralph" (using the traditional British pronunciation "Rafe"), she reveals that she has not told Jerry about an incident she calls the "tractor story." Puddy confirms that he is religious and is not concerned that Elaine is not, because he is "not the one going to Hell."

George and Jerry speculate on what the tractor story is. Elaine is frustrated that Puddy does not seem concerned about her, when he thinks she is going to Hell. George's showmanship backfires when Kruger throws everyone else off the large project because they are boring in comparison. Kramer is concerned about being typecast when the hospital wants him to perform gonorrhea again the next week. Jerry sees a scar on Sophie's leg and assumes it was from a tractor accident. George finds that he has to do all the actual work on the project as Kruger constantly makes excuses and goofs off. Puddy asks Elaine to steal a newspaper. He would do it himself, but he reasons that he is bound by the Ten Commandments and she is going to Hell anyway. Kramer is attacked by Mickey after trying to take over Mickey's assigned role of cirrhosis of the liver. Elaine and Puddy seek the advice of a priest about their relationship. The priest informs them that they're both going to Hell for premarital sex. Sophie tries to tell Jerry the tractor story, but he tells her that he already knows about it (thinking of the scar.). Kramer and Mickey enter, still arguing about being given (the role of) gonorrhea, and Sophie tells them her tractor story: she got gonorrhea from riding a tractor in her bathing suit. At least, that is what her boyfriend told her (with the implication that her boyfriend gave her gonorrhea, and that she was rather gullible and believed him). After hearing that, Jerry leaves the relationship on that comedic high note.

Memorable quotes

Elaine: David, I'm going to hell. The worst place in the world. With devils and those caves and the ragged clothing. And the heat. My god, the heat. I mean, what do you think about all that?

Puddy: Gonna be rough.

Elaine: Uh, you should be trying to save me.

Puddy: Don't boss me! This is why you're going to hell.

Elaine: I am not going to hell and if you think I'm going to hell, you should care that I'm going to hell even though I am not.

Puddy: You stole my Jesus fish, didn't you?

Elaine: Yeah, that's right.

Elaine places her hands beside her head, index fingers raised as 'horns' and she emits a guttural growling.

• George: So, did you pull the old switcheroo?
• Elaine: I did.
• George: And the Christian Rock?
• Elaine: Resurrected. And look what I pulled off his bumper, (takes an ichthys out of her purse) a Jesus fish!

TBS has recently omitted the lines "And the heat my god the heat!" and "gonna be rough" when airing this episode.

Trivia

• This episode is dedicated to the memory of Lloyd Bridges, who died on March 10, 1998. Bridges played Izzy Mandelbaum in "The English Patient" and "The Blood".
• The title of this episode is the same as the 1981 horror film The Burning, which features Jason Alexander and a character also called Sophie. It may also allude to Elaine's supposed damnation or Kramer's fake interpretation of gonorrhea.