The Nap (season 8, episode 18)

written by Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin, directed by Andy Ackerman
original airdate: April 10, 1997

Jerry hires a handyman who has trouble making simple decisions to redo his kitchen cabinets. George realizes he can nap under his desk at work and hires Jerry’s carpenter to redesign his under-desk area. Kramer takes up swimming in the East River. Elaine’s boyfriend gives her a mattress to help her bad back.

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The Improv is not featured in this episode.

Jerry’s Apartment
Jerry hires a contractor, Conrad, to renovate his kitchen cabinets…and he ends up drastically overhauling the entire kitchen, adding in stools and a window to the kitchen counter.

Monk’s Café
George racks his brain on how to nap in his office. Elaine discovers her mattress was custom-designed for her body type, and was not given with sexual intentions.

Yankee Stadium
Tired from watching “The Omen” trilogy, George discovers he can nap under his desk. He has Jerry’s contractor Conrad deck out the desk to make it extra comfy, but the jig is up when Mr. Steinbrenner crashes his office. Jerry calls in a bomb threat to free George, only in exchange for fitted hats for every person in the stadium on Hat Day…and later for advance calls to ticket-holders in the event of a rain delay.

Central Park
New York, NEW YORK (map)
Elaine goes for “a little stroll” through the park with Hal, and discovers Hal’s back problems.

The Lumbar Yard (NOT REAL)
New York, NEW YORK
Hal orders a custom-made mattress for Elaine, but in disgust at the gesture, she gives it to Kramer, who “funks” it up with his river stench.

Elaine’s Apartment
Elaine gets a new ergonomic bed from her boyfriend Hal, but wrongfully loans it to a stinky Kramer. Elaine later gets trapped under the mattress trying to get it out of her apartment…resorting to swimming the East River with Kramer to help her back problems.

East River
New York, NEW YORK
Kramer begins swimming in the East, the most heavily-trafficked, overly-contaminated waterway on the Eastern seaboard, to avoid his busy gym, which is now like a “flabby armed spanking machine.” An onlooker notes to his son that “that’s probably just a dead body, son…see, when the mob kills someone, they throw their body in the river.”

Brooklyn, NEW YORK (map)
A bystander looking across the East River points out Brooklyn to his son: “Over there, that’s Brooklyn…that’s where Spike Lee lives!”

Norfolk, VIRGINIA (map)
When arguing about the merits of swimming in the East River, Kramer argues that technically Norfolk has more gross tonnage in their water.

Queensboro Bridge
Queens, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: 21st Street – Queensbridge (F)
Jerry tells Elaine that her bed smells due to Kramer swimming the East River between the Queensboro Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: High Street (A,C)
Jerry tells Elaine that her bed smells due to Kramer swimming the East River between the Queensboro Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge.