Traveling Salesmen (The Office episode)

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The Office episode
"Traveling Salesmen"

Dwight salutes a farewell to his co-workers after a stint as one of the "Traveling Salesmen"
Episode No. 40
Prod. Code 313
Airdate January 11, 2007
Writer(s) Michael Schur, Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky
Director Greg Daniels

The Office Season 3
September 2006 - May 2007

  1. Gay Witch Hunt
  2. The Convention
  3. The Coup
  4. Grief Counseling
  5. Initiation
  6. Diwali
  7. Branch Closing
  8. The Merger
  9. The Convict
  10. A Benihana Christmas
  11. Back from Vacation
  12. Traveling Salesmen
  13. The Return
  14. Ben Franklin
  15. Phyllis' Wedding
  16. Business School
  17. Cocktails
  18. The Negotiation
  19. Safety Training
  20. Product Recall
List of all The Office episodes...
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"Traveling Salesmen" is the twelfth episode of the third season of the US version of The Office. It aired January 11, 2007, and is the seventh episode directed by series showrunner Greg Daniels.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Michael dresses the rear of his flat screen computer monitor with novelty teeth, a tiny Fez and Post-It eyes and commands it to say rude things to Jim and Pam via a text-to-speech application on his computer.

Early in the episode, Kevin informs Angela that the corporate office has yet to receive important tax documents and warns Angela that if she forgot to send them in, "it is a big deal." Angela appears troubled. Later, Dwight is seen arriving at the office, where Angela has intently perched herself near reception. Angela asks if everything is okay, and Dwight informs her that she "is in the clear." Angela is visibly relieved.

[edit] Sales calls

Dwight, fresh from the road, arrives late to Michael's "dream team" sales meeting, prompting taunts from Andy Bernard regarding his tardiness. Michael informs them that at Andy's suggestion, they'll be pairing up for sales-call duty. Given first choice, Andy selects Michael, flattering him. Phyllis, whom Michael refers to as "our resident senior" picks Karen. Told he cannot select "pass", Stanley selects Ryan. Dwight is angered when he is left to partner with Jim. Dwight seeks coworkers willing to trade, but as Jim is the sole volunteer, the four pairs head out to the parking lot.

Michael tosses a bag of laundry to Dwight who in turn throws it into his Trans Am. Michael dubs the sales calls The Amazing Race, prompting some confusion as he explains that there will be no winner, and that a prize will not be awarded for the largest sale. To supplement his statement, he assigns each pair a nickname based on previous contenders from Race. Michael dubs Stanley and Ryan "the retired Marines", Phyllis and Karen "mother and daughter", Jim and Dwight "the gay couple", and his own team "the firefighter heroes". Before heading out, Michael snatches Phyllis's car keys from her hand and tosses them underneath her vehicle. Upon the team's departure, Angela invites Pam for coffee.

Facilitated by a series of unique stationary in-car shots, the sales calls unfold.

[edit] Andy and Michael

Andy, riding shotgun in Michael's convertible, continually badmouths Dwight, using suggestive language in an attempt to sway Michael's opinion of the man. He becomes frustrated, however, as Michael casually deflects his suggestions. Andy questions Michael as to why Dwight does his laundry. Michael explains that Dwight's laundry duty is punishment for attempting to take Michael's job in a secret meeting with Jan.

At the sales call, Michael's attempt to sell the small-town personal feel of Dunder-Mifflin is thwarted as Andy interrupts with tales of his privileged upbringing and boasting of the company's listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Afterward Andy apologizes for losing the sale, informing Michael that he really "screwed that up... I really Schruted it".

[edit] Stanley and Ryan

En route, Ryan asks Stanley if he can take the lead on the sales call, and Stanley happily accepts. The pair meet with four African American men in the lobby of their business, one of whom knows Stanley. Ryan, flustered, is unable to mutter anything but "Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi." Later Stanley mocks Ryan for his ineptitude, comparing his behavior to that of his six-month-old niece.

[edit] Jim and Dwight

Before they depart, Jim reveals to the camera that he and Dwight used to frequently go on sales calls in the past, and produces an old picture of the young sales duo. Dwight sits in the rear driver's-side seat of Jim's Saab. Before entering the building, Dwight requests that Jim leave the keys to the car, to which Jim replies, "You still do that thing?" Dwight then proceeds to listen to heavy metal while punching the driver seat's headrest and screaming. At the sales call, the pair enact a tag-team sales routine, wherein Dwight borrows a phone and works his way through the call center of what he says is a competing paper company and is put on hold for several minutes while Jim dials Dunder-Mifflin customer service and Kelly answers immediately and amicably. A sale is quickly made.

[edit] Phyllis and Karen

Rather than immediately head out on their call, Phyllis drives Karen to a nearby beauty salon and purchases an outlandish beauty treatment she describes as "makeovers" for the pair. At their sales call, a large sale is quickly procured. Karen is impressed with Phyllis' savvy as it is revealed through a photograph on the client's desk that his wife subscribes to a similar beauty sensibility. Later, Phyllis mentions her happiness for Karen and Jim's relationship as she had worried he would never overcome his crush on Pam, inadvertently revealing its existence to Karen.

[edit] Angela and Pam

At a coffee shop, Pam notices Angela's happy glow and inquires. Angela tells Pam a thinly-veiled story of her friend "Noël", who missed a deadline to send in important documents to corporate in New York and the "gallant gentleman", "Kurt" who drove the documents all the way to New York and handed them in for her. Pam glances knowingly at the camera.

[edit] Dwight's decision

Upon their return, Karen invites Jim to coffee where he assures her that his crush on Pam has passed and that he is glad that Karen moved to Scranton. Meanwhile, Andy steals Dwight's car keys and searches his car, yielding a tollbooth receipt from a trip that morning to New York. Proffering the stolen ticket as evidence, Andy's suggestions finally begin to take hold as Michael is coaxed into believing that Dwight has gone behind his back to the corporate office, betraying him again. After confirming with Jan that Dwight was present at corporate that morning, Michael approaches him with Andy in tow, demanding an explanation. Dwight refuses to acknowledge or explain his presence at the corporate office, but assures Michael that has not betrayed him. Michael insists on an explanation by the end of the day, implying that Dwight may be fired if he does not comply with his request.

Dwight and Angela consult. It is made clear that Dwight will have to choose between betraying Angela by making their relationship public or betraying Michael by withholding information about his whereabouts that morning. Shortly after, Dwight stands up at his desk, requests the attention of the office and announces his resignation:

Although I love this company more than almost anything in the world, I have decided to step down from my post and spend more time with my family. I do not fear the unknown. I will meet my new challenges head-on, and I will succeed, and I will laugh in the faces of those who doubt me. It's been a pleasure working with some of you, and I will not forget those of you soon. But remember, while today it is me, we all shall fall. In other words, I'm quitting.

He bequeaths his box of desk items to Michael, but pulls away two bobblehead dolls, including the likeness of himself. On his way out, Dwight approaches and embraces Jim who is walking with Karen through the parking lot, confusing the two; both were talking over coffee when Dwight's resignation occurred. Andy gloats to the camera about his clever plan to get rid of Dwight while Angela vengefully glares at Andy from the background, suspicious that he's responsible for Dwight's resignation.

[edit] Added scenes

The episode was rebroadcast on March 15, 2007 with a new story line added:

  • Pam answers the phone and learns that her watercolor won an elementary school art contest. To the documentary camera she gives a short acceptance speech, thanking her parents and the sixth-grade class that picked her painting.
  • Pam tells Kevin about winning the contest and the $100 prize. Kevin tells Pam that he won $400 betting on a basketball game. Pam congratulates Kevin and waits in vain for Kevin to congratulate her.
  • Pam tells Angela about winning the contest, and Angela congratulates her. Angela's cat Sprinkles has had kittens, and she offers one of them to Pam. Pam declines awkwardly, and Angela once again becomes cold to her.
  • As Jim leaves with Karen for coffee, Pam tells him about winning the contest, and Jim high-fives her and begins asking her about it. Karen, somewhat annoyed, reminds Jim that they're going to coffee.

[edit] Deleted scenes

  • Michael asks if Pam left a message for Dwight telling him that "his ass was grass and that I [Michael] am the lawn mower." Pam answers, "Yes, except I didn't use those words." Andy makes a show out of the fact that he needs Dwight for "something."
  • In a talking head interview, Andy admits that he doesn't actually need anything from Dwight.
  • In a talking head interview, Michael emphasizes the importance of punctuality. "I need them to show up on time, so when I finally show up, we can get started right away."
  • In a talking head interview, Dwight explains that Andy is merely reinventing the wheel with his traveling salesman plan. Dwight, on the other hand, reveals his sketches for reinventing the roof.
  • Walking to the elevator, Jim remarks to Dwight that it's just like the old days. Dwight agrees, "You drive me there, I dominate, you drive me back." Jim concludes, "Just like the old days."
  • In a talking head interview, Dwight explains that he brings to the sales call "a fierce competitive attitude, plus an extra jacket and roadside flares and business cards and condensed milk."
  • In the car, Michael asks Andy if he's noticed that "Kevin smells really good all the time."
  • Extension of the "I'm a really good folder" conversation in Michael's car.
  • In the car, Dwight asks Jim if he thinks Andy is out to get him. Jim responds, "I think that depends on what you mean by 'get you', but... yes."
  • Pam offers to get Kevin and Toby coffee. Toby asks for a chai latte and is quietly pleased that Pam is getting the same thing. When Pam returns from the coffee shop, she asks Kelly to deliver Toby's coffee. Toby watches Pam leave and then puts his drink in the trash.
  • Before giving his box of possessions to Michael, Dwight emotionally gives away selected items to other co-workers.

[edit] Trivia

For a list of songs featured in this episode, see List of songs featured on The Office (US TV series).
  • While Michael is typing "Long time. Me lobe yoy long time", the screen shows that Michael had also typed "Pam is the receptionist", which is never heard from the computer during the scene before.
  • The executive Michael and Andy are selling to tells them he caught the fish he's pictured with on Lake Wallenpaupack, the real northeastern Pennsylvania lake that was the site of the "Booze Cruise" episode.
  • When Angela is talking to Pam while getting coffee she refers to a hypothetical situation involving Noelle and Kurt. In "Conflict Resolution" and "The Injury", it is revealed that Dwight's middle name is Kurt. It is therefore a reasonable assumption that Angela's middle name is Noelle.
  • Phyllis states she's glad Karen has entered Jim's life to help him get over Pam; however, in "Branch Closing", she tells Pam excitedly of overhearing Jim was to return from the Stamford branch.
  • Dwight's farewell salute was first seen in the episode "Initiation".
  • Frances Willard Elementary School in Scranton (a real school) teaches kindergarten through fifth grade. It does not have a sixth grade class.
  • This is the first episode of the series to use a new, abbreviated title sequence. The new title sequence has been used in all subsequent episodes.

[edit] References

[edit] External links