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The Chinese Woman Episode #90 (6.04: season 6, episode 4), 13 Oct 1994. The Cast: Character Actor Jerry Seinfeld Jerry Seinfeld George Costanza Jason Alexander Kramer Michael Richards Elaine Benes Julia Louis-Dreyfus Donna Chang Angela Dohrmann Estelle Costanza Estelle Harris Frank Costanza Jerry Stiller The "Cape man" is played by Larry David. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [JERRY and ELAINE walking down the street. ELAINE is carrying two plastic grocery bags and one big paper grocery bag. JERRY is carrying none and is pretending to not notice the discrepancy.] JERRY Good shave today.. ELAINE [wry/sarcastic] Don't worry, Jerry, I can manage these bags; really I'm fine. JERRY I'm thinkin' of lettin' my sideburns grow in a little.. ELAINE Can we rest here a second. JERRY [pause] Yeah, I guess. [She sits on the stairs of a small entryway.] JERRY .. So how's Noreen? ELAINE Mm! She's got a new boyfriend: Paul. JERRY Already? That was fast.. I assume he's not a High Talker.. ELAINE No, but, he has, The Worst Habit. Whenever he answers the phone, he won't put Noreen right on. Ya have'ta go through, like, ten minutes of chit-chat. JERRY A Long Talker. ELAINE Yeah! But he is so boring! But now, whenever he answers the phone: I just hang up. JERRY [pause] All right; let's move it out. [ELAINE gets her bags.] JERRY Hey, isn't that George's father? ELAINE Oh, yeah, it is! Should we say hello? JERRY I've never seen him in Manhattan before; it's weird. So out of context. ELAINE That man he's with: is he wearing a cape? JERRY I believe he is wearing a cape. ELAINE Why is Mr. Costanza with a man in a cape? JERRY Well, it is good cape weather. Cool. Breezy. ELAINE Yeah, why a cape? Who wears a cape? Where do you even get a cape? JERRY You're right; it is strange. In fact, let's cross to the other side of the street. Cover me. [ELAINE positions the bags to cover her face and upper body. JERRY walks by her so he's out of view, too.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [End of Intro-- time: 1:23] [Commercial Break] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [JERRY and ELAINE arrive at JERRY's "house."] JERRY Just, ah, plop it on the counter there. [ELAINE drops one bag deliberately and throws the others on the counter. He hadn't helped her at all on the way--payback time. Then, during the following, she spends a lot of time looking for food in the bags and puts some in one bag--presumably hers.] JERRY Oh! I got a message. [presses button on phone machine] GEORGE [on tape] Hey, it's George. I got nothin' to say.. [beeeep] ELAINE That sounds Urgent.. JERRY Let me call him back.. Hello?? Who is this? Donna Chang? Oh, I'm sorry, I must o' dialed the wrong number. ELAINE Donna Chang? JERRY [is redialing] Should've talked to her; I love Chinese women. ELAINE Isn't that a little racist? JERRY If I like their race, how can that be racist?.. Hellooo??.. Oh, is this Donna Chang again?!.. Yyy-yes, I am calling George.. Oh, the lines are crossed; you're getting his calls. Well, what do you know?! [KRAMER comes in. He's got a bottle of water. JERRY stays on the line to chat with Donna.] JERRY So listen.. KRAMER I'm goin' through this stuff like water.. [to JERRY] Who you talkin' to? ELAINE He's on with a Chinese woman. KRAMER Oooo, ooooo. You know, I dig Asian women. [a little distracted, pulling down his underwear in back, through his pants] ELAINE You got a.. comfort problem there? KRAMER Yeah, I think these Jockeys shrunk. ELAINE I thought you wore silk underwear. KRAMER No. Well, you know, I wore 'em for about a month but I couldn't stay with it. Yeah, I need the secure packaging of Jockeys. [he's serious. Then he makes a hand gesture of grabbing up.] My boys need a house. ELAINE [not charmed..] That's nice. Listen, Kramer, you know, if you ever want to have kids you shouldn't wear briefs. Boxers are much better for your sperm count. KRAMER Sperm count? Well how many ssssperm should I have? ELAINE A lot. [JERRY comes back. He'd wandered into the bedroom and is now off the phone.] JERRY I got a date! ELAINE With the Chinese woman?! JERRY She knew who I was! She saw me in a club one time! My first date ever with the Pacific Rim. I'm very excited. KRAMER Jerry. Did ya ever have your sperm count checked? JERRY No, why should I? I wear boxers. KRAMER You ever get a woman pregnant? JERRY I'm sorry, Kramer. Those records are permanently sealed.. KRAMER What would you say if I told you, "I never impregnated a woman"? JERRY Really? You never slipped one past the goalie in all these years??.. Boy, I'm surprised. You've slept with a lot of women, I-- KRAMER A lot of 'em! [wild gesture, freaked out] Do you think maybe I'm.. Depleted??!! JERRY Well, I'm sure you're not.. Totally Depleted. KRAMER Well, but what if I am? I'm the last male Kramer! We're facing extinction! JERRY Well, go to a fertility clinic. Have your sperm count checked. KRAMER Yeah, but then I'd have to.. well, you know.. into a cup? In the middle of the day?? ELAINE Does that conflict with your regular schedule? [KRAMER, distracted, leaves.] ELAINE [going to the phone, she's been eating chips from small package of them] All right. I'm gonna try Noreen again. JERRY I am very excited about this date! We're goin' to Hunan Balcony! ELAINE She's Chinese so you suggest Chinese food? JERRY She suggested it! ELAINE I thought Chinese don't eat Chinese.. JERRY She's very assimilated. [Elaine's on the phone--we hear a male, "Hello?" on the other end. ELAINE quickly hangs up.] JERRY Paul again? ELAINE [matter of fact] You can't get one ring past him. [GEORGE comes in.] GEORGE Hey, hey, hey! You don't call me back?! JERRY I tried! Your line's crossed with a Chinese woman! GEORGE Uh? ELAINE [coming toward GEORGE to sit over by JERRY, who's on the arm of the couch. GEORGE is standing.] Hey, George, we saw your father on the street before. GEORGE What's he doin' in the city today? [They both shrug.] GEORGE You didn't ask him? [They both shake heads no. Elaine's eating chips.] GEORGE You didn't say hello? ELAINE Well, he was with someone. A man.. In a cape. GEORGE Why was he wearing a cape?.. [ELAINE and JERRY shrug.] GEORGE Was my father wearing a cape? JERRY No. Jacket and tie: no cape. GEORGE Huh.. Cape.. [turns, slowly goes to door] W--a man with a cape doin' with my father?.. What was my father doing with a man in a cape? .. [opens door] Why a cape? [out the door and gone]
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Fertility clinic. In an examination room. Kramer's waiting. The DOCTOR comes in.] DOCTOR The results of your sperm test are in. Well, ummm.. Are you planning to start a family? KRAMER Yes! I would like to! Very much!.. Well, I'm low, now, aren't I? I ca--I can feel it!... DOCTOR Yes, I'm afraid you're a little low. KRAMER Ohhh. Man!! It's over! The Kramer name is finished! I'm never goin' to procreate! I-- DOCTOR Hey--that's not necessarily true. There are measures you can take to improve your fertility. KRAMER All right, all right. What. What. You tell me; I'll do anything. Come on, Doc, tell me. DOCTOR First thing: you should wear boxer shorts. KRAMER All the time? DOCTOR All the time. Ya have to get off Jockeys right away. KRAMER Yeah, but I've always worn Jockeys.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [At Elaine's. She's in her robe and talking on the phone, blowing a hair dryer onto the phone.] ELAINE Hi Paul! It's Elaine calling! Yeah, I'm calling from a car phone so I don't really have time to talk. Is, is, uh, Noreen there?!.. Oh. She's not?! Okay, great. Well you can just tell her I called, then, an'-- Well, yes. It has been unseasonably cool lately.. Oh, okay, well, I'm pulling up to the building now. So, I'm gonna.. [a little later, is sitting] Yeah, I took 20%, too.. Uuum. Look it's uh.. [turns hair dryer on and off] Paul. The.. car.. seems to be running out of gas. .. I'm gonna.. have to get off the phone. [hangs up]
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Night. The Hunan Balcony. Jerry's in the waiting area, in a good mood, sitting next to a GUY.] HOSTESS Just let me know when the rest of your party has arrived, sir. JERRY Yes, I will. GUY [indicating a cigarette] Mind? JERRY [good mood] No--go ahead--I second-hand smoke two packs a day. [DONNA CHANG walks up. She's not oriental. But is good-looking.] DONNA Jerry. JERRY [pause] 'scuse me? DONNA Hi. Sorry I'm late. JERRY Who're you? DONNA I'm Donna Chang.. JERRY [stands, in shock, it's not sinking in] What do you mean? DONNA I mean: I'm Donna Chang. JERRY [pause] You're Donna Chang? DONNA Did you think I was Chinese?.. JERRY Oh. No. Oh, you mean because of the "Chang"? DONNA Actually, the family name wasn't originally Chang. JERRY I didn't think so. DONNA It used to be "Changstein."
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Day. At Jerry's, ELAINE and JERRY. She's making herself a bowl of Raisin Bran.] ELAINE She's not Chinese? JERRY No. Not Chinese. Not even Asian. ELAINE So. What is she? JERRY Well, she's.. like you. ELAINE [pause] Oh, how.. disappointed you must have been. [walks to couch, with her cereal] JERRY Well, it's false advertising, see? And the thing is, I think she likes people thinkin' she's Chinese. She suggests Chinese food. She always introduces herself as "Donna Chang,".. ELAINE So why're you seeing her again.. JERRY Well, she is a woman. ELAINE I spoke to Paul an' Noreen. They might be breakin' up. JERRY Really? ELAINE Well, maybe. JERRY [sits on couch as something occurs to him] Hey, wouldn't it be funny if Paul an' Noreen broke up because o' you kept hangin' up on him? ELAINE [pause] What do you mean? JERRY Well, you know if Paul thought it was some guy.. hangin' up because he was having an affair with Noreen? [As ELAINE considers the implications, KRAMER comes in. he's got a pile of underwear in his hands.] KRAMER Here. Take my Jockey shorts. [JERRY leaps up and KRAMER's following him as JERRY walks backward around the apartment during the following.] ELAINE Whoa! Whoa! JERRY What is that?!! KRAMER Look, you gotta help me. I have to get off Jockey shorts. JERRY Wha--you have a low sperm count? KRAMER Very low! Come on, Jerry. Take 'em. JERRY Nnnoo--I don't want 'em. KRAMER Jerry, look! You gotta help me! I can't have 'em near me! If I have one pair in my house, I'm gonna wear them! JERRY Look! I don't want 'em! KRAMER All it takes is one pair! Now, come on! JERRY I'm not gonna be able to sleep if those are in the house! [KRAMER's put the pile on Jerry's table and is grabbing at his own pants.] KRAMER Boxers! How do you wear these things!! Look at that--they're baggin' up, they're rising in! An' there's nothing holding me in place! I'm flip pin'! I'm floppin'! [ELAINE's distracted by disgust.] KRAMER What am I gonna do!? Jerry! I'm goin' crazy in these things! [leaves] JERRY [calmly turns back to The Pile on his table] Well. I'm gonna have to move now.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [At Monk's. GEORGE and his FATHER at a booth.] FRANK Ya know what I like about Manhattan? There's no mosquitoes. GEORGE Plenty of mosquitoes. FRANK Queens is full of mosquitoes. GEORGE So, Dad.. FRANK Gnats, too. If I'm not mistaken. GEORGE Dad! I heard you were in the city the other day! FRANK Your mother has to tell you every move I make!? GEORGE No.. Jerry and Elaine saw you. FRANK They didn't say hello? GEORGE Well, they were in a rush. FRANK They couldn't just say hello?! .. Oh, to hell with them. GEORGE They, uh.. said you were with some guy who was wearing a cape, ha ha. FRANK Elaine, I can see, not sayin' hello. She's very--what's the word--supercilious. GEORGE So Dad. FRANK How could Jerry not say Hello?!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Night. At Jerry's with he and DONNA CHANG. She's on the couch and he's drying the dishes. She's just hung up the phone.] JERRY So did they, uh, uncross the lines, yet? DONNA No. They can't find the problem. It's really getting ridicurous(sic). JERRY [long pause--did he hear "ridicurous"(sic)--should he say something--can't decide if he should. finally..] Did you say, "ridicurous"(sis)? DONNA Ridiculous. JERRY [pause] I thought you said.. "ridicurous."(sic) [he and she look at each other, puzzled.] [GEORGE comes in.] JERRY Oh, what are you doing here? GEORGE Oh, I wanted to, [notices DONNA] talk to you--I'm sorry, I--didn't know you had company. [JERRY indicates he should stay] Hi, uh, I'm George. DONNA Oh! Hi! [they shake hands] I'm Donna Chang. [GEORGE to himself registers that as weird, is heading to the kitchen.] I just spoke to your mother before. GEORGE [pause] You spoke to my mother? DONNA She was trying to call you, but-- JERRY The rines(sic) were crossed? [They both look at him weird.] GEORGE Did you say, "The rines(sic) were crossed?" JERRY Did I? DONNA [pause] George, she's so sweet. We talked for an hour! Anyway, I'm really sorry. GEORGE Sorry? Why sorry? What do you have to be sorry for? DONNA Well, she told me she and your father are getting divorced. [JERRY and DONNA watch as GEORGE immediately and ritually goes to the oven, turns on the gas, opens the door and sticks his head in it.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [End of Act I-- time: 10:18] [Commercial Break] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Same night, at Jerry's apartment--Donna's left. Elaine's there.] ELAINE Divorced. That's really too bad.. JERRY Yeah, you know it's a shame his parents didn't get divorced thirty years ago. He could have been normal. GEORGE [coming out of bathroom] Oh my God! You know what I just realized?! If they get divorced an' live in two separate places? That's twice as many visits! JERRY I never thought of that. GEORGE Imagine if I had to see them both on the same day? [mirthless] Haha! It's like runnin' the double marathon! ELAINE Hey George, did you have any idea that anything was wrong? JERRY Have you ever spent any time with these people..? GEORGE You know what this has to do with? The man in the cape--I bet you he is mixed up in this! I don't trust men in capes. JERRY You can't cast aspersions on someone just because they're wearin' a cape. .. Superman wore a cape.. An' I'll be damned if I'm gonna stand here an' let you say something bad about him. GEORGE All right Superman's the exception. ELAINE [has been watching that with amazed disbelief] [KRAMER enters.] KRAMER Oh, hey! Elaine, I just heard that Noreen and Paul are breaking up. I want you to put in a good word for me. [to JERRY] I've always had a thing for Noreen. ELAINE Oh, Kramer. You don't understand. This could be my fault. KRAMER Well, if she's available now, I'm not gonna let her slip through my fingers this time. Nooope. [walking around at ease, some dancy moves] JERRY Well it looks like you've adjusted to the boxers.. KRAMER Wellll, I wouldn't go as far as that. JERRY You went back to the Jockeys? KRAMER Wrong again. JERRY [pause] Oh, no. ELAINE What? What?.. JERRY Don't you see what's goin' on here??? .. No boxers, no Jockeys.. ELAINE Eeaawww... JERRY The only thing between us is a thin layer of gabardine.. JERRY Kramer, say it isn't so. KRAMER Oh, it be so. I'm out there, Jerry, an' I'm lllovin' every minute of it!!! JERRY Don't you need a little.. help? KRAMER Surprisingly, no. I'm freee, I'm unfettered.. [opens door to leave, still very happy, then:] I'm like a naked innocent boy rrroamin' the countryside!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Day. At Monk's. ELAINE and NOREEN are sitting at the counter. We're looking straight at them.] ELAINE Well, you guys are tryin' to work it out! That's great!.. NOREEN Yeah, well.. We're trying.. He just went insane there for a while.. ELAINE Oh, he went insane?.. NOREEN Believe it or not: Paul was convinced I was having an affair because somebody kept calling and hanging up whenever he answered! What kind of a Sick Person calls and hangs up over and over? ELAINE [awkward, defensive yet hypothetical, avoids eye contact] Well. Uh. I don't know about sick. I mean, maybe it was somebody who, didn't wanna, talk to whoever was answering because whoever was answering was always making, boring chit-chat, an' was completely oblivious to the fact that the person who was calling, didn't want to speak to them, ah! NOREEN [has been growing increasingly slackjawed in amazement] I can't believe that was you.. ELAINE [looks at NOREEN] I'm really sorry, Noreen.. NOREEN [pause] So you thought he was boring? ELAINE Hey! Noreen! Don't go by me! Ha ha. NOREEN [reconsidering Paul's worthiness.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Day. JERRY and ELAINE at Jerry's apartment.] JERRY What are you doin' to this woman?! This is the second relationship you've ruined for her in a few weeks!! ELAINE I know-- JERRY First you ruin her relationship with the High Talker. ELAINE Well, Jer--I got confused, they sound exactly the same. JERRY So she breaks up with him. Somehow picks up the pieces of her life. Miraculously meets: A New Guy! Ya bust that up! An' then, just as they're reconciling, you announce to the world: He's Boring. ELAINE [apologetically] I didn't know she'd take it so seriously. JERRY Well, apparently you have a tremendous influence over this woman! Anything you say she does! [Door bell buzzes. JERRY goes over, hits the button.] JERRY Yeah. DONNA It's Donna Chang. JERRY [hits button] Come on up. ELAINE Well, I guess I just didn't realize it.. JERRY Well, let's look back on your history with this woman. Okay? ELAINE Okay.. JERRY First, you encouraged her to join: The Army. .. She did. ELAINE She was lost.. JERRY Then: you suggest she goes.. AWOL! She did! ELAINE Well, she didn't seem to be havin' so much fun.. JERRY You know.. You better make sure you never tell this woman to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge.. ELAINE If I have this much influence over her, why don't I just call her an' tell her to get back together with him--that's aalll! [DONNA CHANG comes in briskly, good mood.] DONNA Hi. JERRY Oh, Miss Changstein! This is Elaine.. [At the same time--DONNA: Helllo..--ELAINE: Hi! Good to meet you.] DONNA [to JERRY] Guess what? Mrs. Costanza called me, they're not getting divorced. JERRY Why? What happened? DONNA Well, she was trying to call George last night, she got me, we spoke for an hour, she changed her mind!!! JERRY Wow! That's amazing! DONNA Anyway, she wants to meet me! She invited me over for dinner! She said you should come too. JERRY Tonight? DONNA Yeah--I just remembered: I'm gonna have to cancel my acupuncture class. [goes to phone] [Behind her, JERRY and ELAINE slowly exchange looks.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Same day. At the Costanzas', are GEORGE, FRANK, and ESTELLE--GEORGE just entered. ESTELLE's snacking watching TV.] GEORGE All right. Let me just say one thing: there is no way that this is goin' to happen. No Way! Because if you think I'm going' to two Thanksgivings, you're out of your minds!!! ESTELLE [calmly] We're not getting divorced. FRANK You mother changed her mind.. [tries to catch a fly with his hand] GEORGE [glee!] Ya-De! That's Goood! That's Very good! I'm very glad to hear that. FRANK Yeah. We worked it out. GEORGE All right. So let me ask you a question. Who was the man in the cape? FRANK He was my lawyer. GEORGE You lawyer wears a cape..? FRANK Yeah. So what? GEORGE Who wears a cape? FRANK He's very independent; doesn't follow the trends. ESTELLE He looks ridiculous in that thing.. FRANK You have no eye for fashion!!! ESTELLE I have no eye for fashion?!?!?! GEORGE All right! Come on! Let's not fight. FRANK and ESTELLE All right! All right! ESTELLE Georgie's right. GEORGE So what made you change your mind? ESTELLE It was that Chinese woman.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [In Jerry's car. Jerry's driving, DONNA CHANG is with him.] JERRY So I'm curious. What'd you tell Mrs. Costanza that changed her mind? DONNA I mentioned a few bits of wisdom from Confucius. JERRY [pause] Confucius, huh? DONNA Yeah. JERRY [pause] You know, you're not Chinese... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [The Costanzas again. They open the door for JERRY and DONNA.] JERRY Hey! I heard the good news! FRANK Jerry: how come you didn't say hello to me the other day, huh?! JERRY Elaine was.. in a rush. FRANK I knew it was Elaine!! DONNA You must be Estelle. ESTELLE Yes. Who are you..? DONNA I'm Donna Chang! ESTELLE You're not Chinese!
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Meanwhile, in Noreen's apartment. NOREEN and KRAMER are sitting on the couch when the phone rings. KRAMER picks it up. Scene cuts back and forth between ELAINE and them.] KRAMER Hello? ELAINE Paul? KRAMER Elaine! ELAINE Kramer? KRAMER [pause] Yeahh! ELAINE What're you doin' there? KRAMER Wellll, isn't it obvious? ELAINE Uh! Ah, is Noreen there? KRAMER Yes, she is.. ELAINE Well? Can I talk to her? KRAMER What? Am I, tooo.. boring for you? ELAINE [tired] Fine--would you just put her on? KRAMER Well, I feel it'd be best if you just didn't talk to her for a while.. ELAINE You feel? KRAMER That's right! She an' I have had a very long talk. An' I was appalled to learn of the destructive influence you've had over her life lo these many years.. ELAINE What are you insane?! KRAMER From now, on, I'll be calling the shots around here.. ELAINE Oh! Haha. An' what're you gonna tell her? KRAMER Well. I've encouraged her to go back into the Army.. There she'll get the structure an' the discipline she needs right now.. And she'll have qualified officers telling her what to do.. ELAINE Uh! Kramer! You have got to let me talk to her! KRAMER Can't help ya, kid.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Back at the Costanzas'. Still daylight.] ESTELLE You're not Chinese!?!? DONNA [pause] No. ESTELLE I thought you were Chinese!! DONNA I'm from Long Island. ESTELLE Long Island?!?! I thought I was gettin' advice from a Chinese woman!! DONNA I'm sorry..? ESTELLE Well! Then, that changes everything! GEORGE What?! ESTELLE She's not Chinese; I was duped!! GEORGE So what?! She gave you advice; what's the difference if she's not Chi nese?!?! ESTELLE I'm not taking advice from some girl from Long Island!! [goes into kitchen] GEORGE [chases her] Wait a minute! You're--now you're getting a divorce because she's from Long Island?!?! FRANK [from the living room, standing, shouts after them] You want a divorce?!!? You got one!!! JERRY [pause, to DONNA] You know, you might wanna think about changin' your name..
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Day. JERRY and ELAINE, walking down the street.] ELAINE So, ever since she started dating Kramer, she won't even talk to me! JERRY Well--Noreen listened to you like George's mother listened to the Chinese. ELAINE [pause] You know, everybody listens to the Chinese. I mean, look at the fortune cookie. You couldn't get away with that in any other restaurant. JERRY [has just bought a newspaper out of a machine] Yeah, no one's reading any rolled-up messages in a knish.. [A cab pulls up and GEORGE gets out.] GEORGE Oh, it had to happen!! I knew it!! JERRY Hey. GEORGE I predicted it! [hits cab roof twice, it drives off] Saw both of them today! What a disaster! I'm runnin' all over Queens. First I saw my mother. We had lunch together. Never had, Lunch, with my mother before--it's like a date! Then we drive down to Kew Gardens! Tons of traffic! I see my father. We played "Clue"! All day with this! [KRAMER sticks his head out of his (or Jerry's) apartment window, shouts down to them.] KRAMER Hey, Jerry! Guess what! The Kramer name might live on! Noreen's late! She's laaate!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------ [End of Act II time: 9:18] [Commercial Break] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [During credit roll. Night on the Brooklyn Bridge. NOREEN peers over the edge, the wind blowing up on her face. Then a man in a black cape edges over to her cautiously, reaches and holds her forearm.] NOREEN Who are you?! MAN [calmly, businesslike] I'm Frank Costanza's lawyer. [he helps her get back off (and out of view of the camera).] [The End-- Total transcript time: 21:22] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Return to The Television Transcript Project Comments to smorine@nyx.net Last Updated: 3 June, 1997
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