Jerry owes the library a book that's 20 years overdue and has to deal with Lt. Bookman (Philip Baker Hall), a library cop who takes his job very seriously. George wonders if a homeless man is his former gym teacher who used to bully him. Kramer starts a relationship with the librarian.
Tropes:
- Asshole Victim: A non-fatal example. Mr. Heyman, who after lost his teaching job, ends up homeless. Though considering how he treated George, it feels well-deserved, especially considering he still hasn't changed in those 20 years.
- By-the-Book Cop: Lt. Bookman, who takes the rules and regulations of the library very seriously and at one point asks Jerry if he's killed anyone.
- Expy: Lt. Bookman is basically Joe Friday if he worked for a library.
- Extremely Overdue Library Book: The Tropic of Cancer, which Jerry has owed the library for 20 years.
- Fake Memories: Jerry attempts to clear his good name by seeing his old high school sweetheart Sherry Becker, who he remembers to have a slimmer figure, wore an orange dress, chewed Black Jack gum, and he read to her from The Tropic of Cancer before returning it to the library on time. When he meets her, she is broader than he remembers, and she says she was wearing a purple dress, chewed Dentyne (and in fact hated Black Jack), and that Jerry was reading from The Tropic of Capricorn.
- Nobody Likes a Tattletale: Kramer is not sympathetic at all to George getting Mr. Heyman fired. Kramer gives him crap over being a squealer.
- Prophetic Names: The library cop is named Bookman. Lampshaded by Kramer:Kramer: Bookman? The library investigator's name is actually Bookman? That's amazing! That's like an ice cream man named Cone.
- Sadist Teacher: Mr. Heyman, who loved to bully George and called him the unflattering "Can't-Stand-Ya".
- The Stool Pigeon: George when he reveals he complains about his old gym coach harassing him.
- Wedgie: Mr. Heyman, who gives George one in high school and in present day, give him an atomic wedgie, which breaks off the waistband of his underwear.
- Wham Shot: The copy of The Tropic of Cancer that Jerry owes the library is among Mr. Heyman's possessions.
