The Secret Code (Seinfeld)

"The Secret Code (Seinfeld)"

"The Secret Code" is the 117th episode of NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 7th episode of the 7th season. It aired on November 9, 1995.

Plot

George refuses to tell his ATM code to Susan. Elaine dates a friend of Jerry, the forgetful Fred (played by Fred Stoller). Appliance store owner Leapin' Larry Lewis Arquette wants Jerry to do spots for his store, but he is angered when he thinks Jerry is doing an impression of him when his foot falls asleep. Kramer gets an emergency band scanner and decides to help at the New York City Fire Department. Later on, he winds up driving the back end of a hook and ladder in the fire scene near the end of the episode.

Elaine's boss, Jacopo Peterman, invites her out to dinner after writing a piece on the Himalayan Walking Shoe. She pleads Jerry to join them, and Jerry later tricks George into coming to the restaurant. Meanwhile, Elaine runs into Fred Yerkes (who she had met at a previous party) on the street, but Fred doesn't remember her. Mesmerized by his lack of interest, Elaine goes on a date with Fred and leaves Jerry and George to eat with Peterman. At the restaurant, Jerry makes an excuse to leave, but George is stuck with Peterman. After dinner, Peterman is driving George home when Peterman receives a call that his mother (played by Ellen Albertini Dow) is "at death's door" at her apartment. They rush to her side, and George is forced to stay the night. George remains in her bedroom keeping her company while Peterman goes to the kitchen to make coffee. Believing Peterman's mother is unconscious, he reveals his ATM code ("Bosco") to her in a cathartic moment. Somehow, she seizes upon the word, which she repeats over and over; it becomes her dying word(s).

Later while George is talking to Jerry about his code still refusing to reveal it Kramer comes in stating that he can guess it. Through a series of assumptions or truths about George, Kramer is able to reveal that it is a chocolate syrup. As Kramer shouts out guesses (nearly guessing every syrup except Bosco) George becomes agitated and leaves the room fearing that his secret code may be revealed.

While Jerry was filming another commercial for Leapin' Larry after clearing up the first incident Jerry's leg once again falls asleep. Jerry not wanting to upset Larry again, attempts to "wake up" his leg by stomping it repeatedly on the ground. The vibration from this spills a can of accelerant on exposed electrical wires causing a fire to break out. The fire continues to spread until George is with Peterman examining the fire when they realize there is a man caught inside a bank. The man has his arm stuck in the ATM and cannot get it out. George reluctantly is forced to give up his code to Peterman, who upon hearing that George's code and his mother's dying words are the same, blames George for his mother's demise (in a subsequent J. Peterman catalogue story).

Quotes

• Peterman: Tell the maître d' it'll just be the three bulls.

• Kramer: Is it the salty snacks you crave?

Episode Notes

• The building shown in the scenes with the fire department was also used as the headquarters in Ghostbusters. The firehouse is an actual FDNY firehouse.
• The ATM PINs mentioned throughout the episode could not have been used as real PINs (as "PIN" itself means personal identification number), as they each used five letters, not four numbers as is standard with PINs.

Superman reference

• Jerry reveals his ATM code to be "Jor-El", Superman's Kryptonian father.

External links

• The Secret Code - Complete Script for Seinfeld Episode "The Secret Code," season 7, episode 7, broadcast date: Nov. 9, 1995