INT. SUBWAY CAR – DAY
[Kramer and Newman are riding the subway, Newman reading about the Soto signing on his phone]
Newman: (excited) Can you believe it? Soto’s actually coming to the Mets!
Kramer: Yeah, but even Steve doesn’t have that kind of cash lying around. He’s gonna need to sell some assets.
Newman: (interested) Assets?
Kramer: (animated) The Cyclones, Newman! Minor league baseball – that’s where the real action is!
Newman: (getting excited) Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
INT. JERRY’S APARTMENT – LATER
[Kramer and Newman burst in]
Jerry: What are you two hopped up about?
Kramer: Jerry, we’re gonna be baseball owners!
Jerry: (skeptical) Baseball owners?
Newman: We’re buying the Cyclones!
Jerry: The Cyclones?
Kramer: It’s the future of baseball, Jerry! We’ll have theme nights, promotional giveaways…
Jerry: And how exactly are you planning to pay for this?
Newman: I’ve got my postal pension!
Kramer: And I’ve got all those “Almost A Met” t-shirts we can sell as collector’s items!
[Jerry stares at them in disbelief as they rush out]
[Downstairs buzzer rings]
Jerry: Come up!
[Steve enters, looking unusually calm]
Jerry: I heard you sold the Cyclones.
Steve: (nonchalant) Yeah, baseball’s for losers anyway. There’s no money in it.
Jerry: No money in it? Then why do you own a baseball team?
Steve: (leaning in) The casino, Jerry. The casino.
Jerry: The casino?
Steve: (excited) Yes! Everyone’s focused on Soto, but the real money’s in the casino.
Jerry: So you’re telling me you signed Soto to distract everyone from your casino plans?
Steve: (proudly) Jerry, nobody cares about a casino when you’ve got a 15-year, multi-million dollar signing to talk about!
Jerry: (realizing) So that’s why you sold the Cyclones to Kramer and Newman…
Steve: (laughing) Kramer and Newman? No, no, Jerry. They just think they’re buying the Cyclones.
Jerry: (confused) What do you mean?
Steve: (sitting down, smug) See, while everyone’s focused on Soto and these two idiots running around thinking they’re buying a minor league team, I’m orchestrating the biggest deal in New York history.
Jerry: (intrigued) Go on…
Steve: (leaning in) First, you get Soto. Big splash, everyone’s excited. Then, you let it leak that you’re selling the Cyclones – creates uncertainty, people start wondering if you’re in financial trouble.
Jerry: And then?
Steve: While everyone’s distracted by that, you quietly acquire the land. Before anyone realizes what’s happening….casino, hotels, restaurants…
Jerry: (impressed) So Soto is just…
Steve: A very expensive distraction. And a pretty good baseball player.
[Kramer bursts in]
Kramer: Steve! I’ve got the check for the Cyclones right here!
Steve: (winking at Jerry) Oh, about that Kramer… we might need to restructure the deal. Maybe add some… additional parties. Why don’t you go get Newman and we’ll discuss the details?
[Kramer runs out excited]
Jerry: (to Steve) You’re really not selling them the Cyclones, are you?
Steve: Remember Jerry, while everyone else is playing checkers…
Jerry: You’re building a casino.
Steve: (smiling) Exactly.
[Steve exits as Jerry sits there, finally realizing that Steve might be smarter than they all thought]