George has an emotional breakup with his girlfriend, Marlene, and he still has some books at her apartment. He wants the books back and asks Jerry if he’ll pick them up. Jerry asks George if he has read them already, which George tells him he has. Jerry tells him to forget about the books, it’s not like he will read them again, but George says they’re his books and he wants them back. In the end, George wins in persuading Jerry to retrieve the books. Jerry goes on a date with Marlene to get the books back. At the end of the date, while sitting outside Marlene’s building in Jerry’s car, Marlene tells Jerry there’s no reason they can’t still be friends even though she and George have broken up. At this point, Jerry has developed a bit of an infatuation for Marlene, and agrees with her.
They begin dating, but Jerry has a hard time telling George. Elaine learns of the situation and urges Jerry to tell George about it. Jerry tells George about their relationship, and George tells Jerry he’s fine with it. George doesn’t know why he’s fine with it, but he is. The next night, at the end of Jerry and Marlene’s date, Jerry invites Marlene up to his apartment, but she declines. He inquires as to why she declined, thinking things are going well. She tells him that she saw his act, and doesn’t think it is funny, and that she cannot be with a man if she does not respect his work. To which Jerry replies, “but you’re a cashier.”
This episode marks the first time in the series when Jerry’s comedy routine brings about an end to his relationship with a woman.