At the end of “The Parking Garage”, Kramer finally locates his car and is relieved to be able to unload the air conditioner into his trunk. As Alexander explains in his DVD interview, the trunk was only about three-quarters of an inch wider than the box the air conditioner was in, leaving little wiggle room. In order to get the actual air conditioner into the trunk, Richard had to give the box a gigantic whack, hoping it would snap into place quickly.
Of course, that’s not what happened. Richard noticed that the box had come to a screeching halt on the edge of the trunk and he accidentally hit his face against it. His lip split open and he started bleeding. “Which was good,” Richards noted, “for comedy.” Richards tried to downplay his injury, saying he only had a “little bump. Bumps are good.” He was also a consummate professional and remained true to character throughout. “Michael refuses to break up,” Alexander noted. Unfortunately, Louis-Dreyfus witnessed the injury up close, saw the blood and started laughing, completely breaking character.
Richards, trying to salvage the take, simply said, still in character, “I really hurt myself, Elaine.” He then tried to continue his next sentence. Unfortunately, Seinfeld and Alexander also started laughing, and Richards eventually had to laugh to himself.
Turns out the episode’s piece de resistance wasn’t scripted. After a terrible day of getting lost in a parking lot – and a frustrating day of grunting and sore lips – the foursome finally get in their car to leave. Richards had to start the car and leave. But because the car was old and horrible, it wouldn’t start. A close look then reveals the cast cracking up inside the car, amused by the dark perfection.
It’s a horrible, annoying, and downright hilarious “button” for a very good episode. It’s also partly why some members of the “Seinfeld” cast aren’t convinced the show could be made today.
