 " The Deal " is the ninth episode of the second season of NBC 's Seinfeld , and the show 's 14th episode overall . The episode centers on protagonists Jerry ( Jerry Seinfeld ) and Elaine Benes ( Julia Louis @-@ Dreyfus ) who decide to have a purely physical relationship , with a set of ground rules . However , as their " deal " progresses , Jerry begins to have feelings for Elaine and Elaine begins to have feelings for Jerry .
 hopefully , the episode is not a " deal breaker " for the show.
The episode was written by Elaine Pope , and was directed by Tom Cherones . It first aired on