The Office S2 Ep7: The Client
Dinner by candlelight & make-outs at Chili’s
Catherine Zeta Jones: “First message is, ‘I love you.’ That's from me.”
Michael Scarn: “Not in a thousand years, Catherine. We work together. Now get off my desk!”
Breaking down Jim & Pam’s love story in The Office one episode at a time…
All Office episode breakdowns.
Beginning
This episode is all about dates. Good, bad, and sloppy.
Pam is eager, almost proud, to tell the circle of coworkers her “worst first date” story. He took her to a minor league hockey game, brought along his brother, and left when she went to the bathroom (because they both forgot about her). Jim asks who it was and Pam’s demeanor shuts in on itself.
Who else could it be?
Yes, Roy overlooks Pam. But that’s not what stands out to me.
Pam consistently accepts being overlooked. She probably didn’t tell Roy she was disappointed with their first date. She probably didn’t say, “Hey, this sucks, I’m leaving.” As insulted as she may have been, she chose to go on a second date. She has agency here.
Something in Pam is drawn to being invisible. Maybe her low self-confidence makes her think she deserves to be deprioritized. Maybe it feel scary to be seen.
“Oh my God. I win. Okay, it was a minor league hockey game…” - Pam
This date also shows that Roy and Pam were not on the same page from the start. I would bet Roy didn’t think this was a date. He was probably going to that hockey game anyway and thought they were all just hanging out. My guess is Pam had a crush on Roy, and before the game, she built up expectations in her head. But what do I know!
Of course, this story sticks out to Jim. He thinks it’s “interesting.” I think he just spotted another area where he can outshine Roy.
“Did you do her?” -Dwight
Michael sets off to his business meeting with a very frustrated Jan and the potential new client from Lackawanna County. They are another mismatched pair. Jan is as practical as Michael is…unconventional.
Michael calls Pam from Chili’s. He needs some jokes. When Pam returns the book of jokes to Michael’s desk, she finds this episode’s B story: Threat Level Midnight.
She drops the movie script on Jim’s desk with a huge grin and no words. Is she happy about finding the script or….. happy about making Jim proud?
Michael: “Bingo! And a lighthouse. Yes. That is hysterical. Could you start that one from the beginning?”
Pam: “Sure. There's a transcript between a naval ship and a lighthouse…”
Middle
The whole office (including Angela!) sits in the conference room to read the Threat Level Midnight script. Roy walks in to get Pam. The work day is over and it’s time to go home. (Which means Angela is reading Threat Level Midnight….after work hours??????)
But Pam chooses to stay. When Jim and Pam spend time together, they are usually present out of obligation. They have to be in the office 40 hours a week. They have to go to the Dundies. But now, Pam is choosing to spend time with Jim—over spending time with Roy!
“It’s not really a date if the girl goes home to her fiance. Right?” -Jim
Jim is choosing to be here too, over “plans to meet a friend.” I wonder if that friend was Katy.
After everyone finishes reading the movie script, Jim and Pam go on their first date. It’s quite the contrast to Pam and Roy’s. They sit on the roof of the building. Dinner by candle light. Beautiful night sky. Fireworks. Jim makes grilled cheeses. Pam feels taken care of.
After, Jim and Pam walk to their cars in the parking lot. Jim says he’ll see Pam in 10 hours, which means it’s 11:00 o’clock. They stayed on that roof a long time. Offices feel different that late at night. Quiet, dark, intimate. They listen to music together in Jim’s earphones. So romantic. They sway. And just as we’re expecting an end-of-date kiss……
Cue the make-out in the Chili’s parking lot! What a bait and switch! After Michael closes the deal with Lackawana County, he seals the deal with Jan.
“Some might even say that we had our first date last night.” - Jim
End
For a TV show about an office, Rainn Wilson and Kate Flannery take off their clothes a lot. Act III opens with Dwight in his underwear. It’s early morning at the office and he’s looking for Michael, who didn’t come back last night.
Jim and Pam laugh at reception about Michael and Jan’s late night romance. They’re awfully judgmental for two people who almost did the same thing. Something tells me Pam isn’t aware of this.
But Jim is. He points out how they had their own first date last night. He lists all the romantic qualities of it. He kept track.
But Pam is adamant it wasn’t a date. She nit-picks that they didn’t dance, they swayed. And swaying isn’t dancing. Once again, when someone holds a mirror to Pam, she recoils. Because of course Jim and Pam had a date. They’re always on dates! They’re in an emotional affair! But Pam doesn’t want to admit this.
Pam’s rejection hurts Jim’s feelings. He can’t help point out his foil: "At least I didn’t leave you at a high school hockey game.” Pam doesn’t like that comment and rushes off to do some faxes. Jim calls back to her, “Oh come on Pam.”
But that’s all we get. Jim is left to contemplate his dilemma in a talking head. He loves a girl who is with someone else.
Looks like Pam isn’t the only one who accepts being deprioritized.
“Swaying isn’t dancing.” - Pam
