George arrives at the library, where he suspects that a homeless man on the steps outside is Mr. Heyman, a physical education teacher at his high school whom he reported for giving him a wedgie, which got him fired.
After meeting up with his former girlfriend, Sherry Becker, Jerry remembers that he gave the book to George (who subsequently lost it after getting a wedgie from Heyman).
The final scene shows the homeless man in an alley, revealing himself as Heyman because he's mumbling "can't stand ya", an insulting version of George's last name, and a dilapidated copy of the long-lost Tropic of Cancer lies at his side.
Philip Baker Hall's role as a lieutenant, whom he played in imitation of Jack Webb's Sergeant Joe Friday of Dragnet fame, was very well received.
[4] When the New York Public Library decided to eliminate late fees in October 2021, it posted a satiric piece in its blog, supposedly written by another character of that episode (Sherry Becker), wishing Mr. Bookman a happy retirement.