3.07: Branch Closing
Thursday, November 9th, 2006
Written by: Michael Schur
Summary (NBC): When Jan tells Michael that the Scranton Branch will be shutting down, Michael strives to keep his staff’s spirits up. Meanwhile, everyone privately begins to envision how their lives will change in the aftermath.
Icon courtesy of _klotera at LiveJournal.
Tidbits
- NBC videos: 2-Minute Replay | Producer’s Cut (limited offering)
- Blogs: John the prop guy’s MySpace blog | Jenna’s MySpace blog | Kate’s TV Guide blog
- Reviews: Entertainment Weekly | TV Guide
- Buy Branch Closing at the iTunes Store
Favorite quotes
Jim: I don’t have a ton of contact with the Scranton branch, but, before I left, I took a box of Dwight’s stationery, so, from time to time, I send Dwight faxes. From himself. From the future. (Reading fax) “Dwight, at 8am today, someone poisons the coffee. Do not drink the coffee. More instructions will follow. Cordially, Future Dwight.”
Michael: There she is. Jan Levinson.
Jan: Michael.
Michael: First thing in the morning. Love to start my morning with a hearty bowl of Jan.
Jan: Michael.
Michael (singing): Just call me Levinson in the morning, baby …
Jan: I am here to tell you that we are closing the Scranton branch.
Michael: I don’t understand.
Jan: The boarded voted last night to close your branch.
Michael: On whom’s authority?
Jan: The board’s.
Michael: W-what?
Jan: I’m very sorry. I don’t relish telling you this. You’ve been a big part of this company, and the board asked me to thank you for your years of service.
Michael: You’re welcome.
Jan: A small number of people will be transferred to the Stamford branch, and the rest will be getting severance packages.
Michael: Am I a small number person or a severance package person?
Jan: Well, we haven’t made final decisions about personnel yet. But you’re a severance package person.
Jan: Our CFO believes that Josh is going to play an important role in our company’s future.
Michael: Oh really, what role is that? King of the stupid universe?
Michael: I know you’re mad, but don’t do this to me. I know I hurt you, but please do not do this to me. Don’t hurt me like I hurt you.
Michael: It is an outrage, that’s all. They’re making a huge, huge mistake. Let’s see Josh replace these people. Let’s see Josh find another Stanley. You think Stanleys grow on trees? Well they don’t. There is no Stanley tree. Do you think the world is crawling with Phyllises? Show me that farm. With Phyllises and Kevins sprouting up all over the place. Ripe for the plucking. Show me that farm.
Michael: Just do your work … while you still can.
Dwight: When you become close with someone, you develop a kind of sixth sense. You can read their moods like a book. Right now, the title of Michael’s book is, “Something Weird is Going On.” Colon, “What Did Jan Say?” “The Michael Scott Story.” “By Michael Scott … With Dwight Schrute.”
Andy: Scranton branch is closing? In your face.
Michael: Best physical condition of my life.
Michael: It’s over. We are screwed. Dunder Mifflin Scranton is being shut down.
Michael: Traitor. You are a traitor.
Michael: Omigod. You walk so slowly.
Angela: I don’t want to blame anyone in particular. I think everyone’s to blame.
Kelly: If I get to stay, and Ryan is laid off, I will kill myself. Like “Romeo and Juliet.” The Claire Danes one.
Jim: I worked in Scranton for a really long time. And it’s going to be weird that it’s all disappearing. I mean I always knew that the branch would shut down someday, I just figured it would be because Michael sold the building for some magic beans.
Jim: I think it would be kind of weird if everyone from Scranton came here. It would be like, going to your high school reunion, and you saying, “Hey, I missed you guys,” and then they’re all like, “Oh, don’t worry about it, we’re all going to move in with you! — forever!”
Meredith: I know you’re seeing someone, but I’m still willing if you are.
Michael: Day just gets worse and worse …
Pam: It’s a blessing in disguise. Actually, not even in disguise. In my fantasy, I always thought I would slap someone, make a big speech, and storm out forever. But this is good, too.
Pam: It’s a blessing in disguise. Actually, not even in disguise. Sometimes at home, I answer the phone, “Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam.” So, maybe that’ll stop now.
Angela: Don’t worry, you’re going to be fine, Roy. You’re very … strong. And capable.
Roy: You know that Cinderella song, ‘You Don’t Know What You Got Til It’s Gone’? That pretty much says it better than how I know how to say it in words.
Roy: I don’t want to work here without Pam. It would just be like loading trucks without any meaning. You know?
Stanley: I really couldn’t be happier.
Michael: Don’t worry about me.
Darryl: I wasn’t.
Michael: This is my house. The CFO is taking away my house and giving it to Josh. And Josh is giving the garage to Bob Vance.
Michael: Alright, listen up. Some of you may have heard some rumors about the branch closing.
Stanley: Like when you said the branch was closing?
Pam: Oh good, you’re bringing Dwight.
Dwight: Can I drive?
Michael: No. Way.
Dwight: Shotgun!
Michael: No, there’s no one else.
Dwight: Still …
Ryan: This kind of worked out perfectly for me. I got some good experience, Michael’s going to write me a great recommendation, and as far as me and Kelly goes, I think it’s for the best.
Michael: I can’t say I was a big fan of “Bowling for Columbine.” Because I thought it was going to be a bowling movie. Like “Kingpin.” And it wasn’t. It was something else.
Jim: Say what you will about Michael Scott, but he would never do that.
Michael: Let’s start again. Just be more scared of me, okay? Don’t touch me this time.
Kelly: Pam, would you please sign my company directory?
Dwight: Was he enjoying a delicious hot beverage? Or … disguising the scent of cocaine from drug-sniffing dogs? It’s a nice house.
Angela: No seafood!
Kevin: Hooters.
Angela: No.
Dwight: Here, replenish your fluids.
Random guy: Four hundred for the CPU.
Creed: Done.
Phyllis: We know the branch is closing. Michael told us.
Pam: Is it because of Michael? Did he actually do something?
Andy: Will Big Tuna be transferring to Scranton?
Jim: Where did you go to college?
Andy: Cornell.
Jim: Oh. That’s good.
Kelly: I’m so happy! We don’t have to break up now, Ryan! It is the best day of my whole life.
Ryan: I don’t know. Can’t explain it.
Stanley: Oh well. What can you do. It was nice to have those few hours, when I thought it was over. Now, I have something to look forward to.
Meredith: Hey Creed, congratulations.
Creed: Thank you. Made like twelve hundred bucks.
Meredith: Can you be at my place in twenty minutes?
Pam: There are reasons to stay.
Michael: Favorite moments in Dunder Mifflin history. Go.
Dwight: My first day when you hazed me by spraying me with a fire extinguisher.
Michael: That was hilarious. The foam …
Dwight: My first sale, my promotion to assistant regional manager, our basketball game, when you took me to the hospital, and told me that you cared about me.
Phyllis: Hey, I hear Jim’s coming back.
Karen: Yeah, I’m happy he said that. I mean, I don’t think he’s into me or anything, but, I’m kind of into him. So … there you go.
Michael: I am such a stupid idiot. I let everybody down. Everybody hates me. I lost everybody’s jobs. Nobody likes me anymore!
Michael: How did we do it?
Dwight: I don’t … have no idea.
Michael: I don’t understand.
Toby: Well for a minute there, I saw myself selling my house, moving to Costa Rica, learning how to surf. But … Costa Rica will still be there. When I’m 65.
“Love to start my morning with a hearty bowl of Jan.”
Correction:
“Love to start my day** with a hearty bowl of Jan. ”
Not to be a snobby perfectionist, but I thought I’d correct you. Haha
319 | McKenzie Tue. Feb. 13, 2007 at 5:57pmI hope they delay Jim and Pam ever hooking it up until a few years down the line. The show would just get a lot less interesting once they finally get together. The more tension the better…make Pam sweat it our for a while….hehehe…
318 | Frank Fri. Nov. 24, 2006 at 11:50pmgreat ep
317 | effico Wed. Nov. 22, 2006 at 6:14pmAs far as what will happen with Jim/Pam/Karen, I can see Pam making a move for Jim but Jim rejecting her because she broke his heart. Also, I think that Karen will make for some interesting conflicts between Jim and Pam, but ultimately is just a rebound girl for Jim.
Another great thing about the merger is that Jim will be Michael’s number 2 man, instead of Dwight. I think that will make Dwight hate Jim even more, which can only be a good thing.
I agree with Joseph about Jim getting bossy. I can see Michael making Jim give Pam some impossible task and Pam becoming resentful.
316 | Matt Wed. Nov. 15, 2006 at 1:36pmAngie-
I thought about the British version as well when considering the whole “Jim dating someone before Pam” idea. But it gets comlicated because the two aren’t identical. Tim dated the girl who trasnfered over from Swindon. He broke up with her and then asked Dawn the question. (which we don’t know what it was be we do know she said “no”) Also keep in mind Dawn was still engaged during all this. Then there is Jim who dated Katy and broke up with her to pursue Pam (which we all know what happened)
So here are the similarities I see:
Tim was given a higher position (which made him slightly bossy towards Dawn) Jim now will be Michael’s #2.
Tim dated someone in the office. Jim will most likely be dating Karen.
But things are totally different since Pam is not engaged anymore, whereas Dawn still was.
Should be interesting to see where this goes!
315 | Joseph Wed. Nov. 15, 2006 at 6:25amI don’t understand why everyone’s all “Pam or Karen? Pam or Karen?”
Am I the only one rooting for Jan Levinson!?
314 | HinduHalloween Wed. Nov. 15, 2006 at 4:27amI don’t think they would bring Karen into the story if she weren’t a plot device - she’ll complicate things for Jim/Pam. We already know Karen likes Jim - that much was explicit. I do think she’s there to complicate the plot for a while before we’ll see a resolution.
313 | rachel (2) Wed. Nov. 15, 2006 at 3:05amBut Jim, though in pain, has always been pretty genuine about his own feelings. That’s why we can identify with him. He may act defensively out of hurt feelings, true, but in the end I think he will be true to himself. Pam needs only that moment of self-realization to allow the union of soulmates to happen!
I’ve noticed that while Karen kind of gazes at Jim longingly, Jim does not return the feeling - he gazes out the window wistfully. Is it my imagination, or are his interactions with Karen tinged with an air of loneliness?
Some amount of time always lapses between episodes. I’d estimate that the merger between the Scranton and Stamford branches takes a few weeks to a month. And from what I can tell just by viewing the promo, this Thursday’s episode picks up as the merger finalizes because the Stamford employees arrive. What does all this mean? I think that’s enough time for Jim and Karen to actually be dating by now. Jim’s so reluctant to go back to Scranton that I could just see him being very open to Karen’s advances. He switched branches just to move on, and now that he’s moving back, he might feel he needs to do something to make him feel less pathetic about returning to the site of his last romantic disaster. It wouldn’t be about hurting Pam or showing her up, just about convincing himself that he’s made some progress getting over Pam. But I’m probably wrong about all of this.
312 | Adriana Tue. Nov. 14, 2006 at 3:28pmDoes anyone else think that Michael looks a little like Amy Sedaris’ Jerri Blank character when he made the scared face?
311 | Dan Tue. Nov. 14, 2006 at 10:24amWhat a great episode.
I loved Pam’s guilty look when Ryan asks if she thinks Jim coming back would be awkward.
Also, who called Dwight at the end and gave him the good news? Angela maybe?
310 | HinduHalloween Tue. Nov. 14, 2006 at 9:04amEver watch the British Office? Tim dates some chippy before Dawn goes to him. So I see this happening in our case. Jim will date… Karen?!? And then Pam somewhere down the line will take it no more and go for Jim. Perhaps whilst dating some chippy, perhaps not. But I’m saying that’s the deal.
309 | Angie Tue. Nov. 14, 2006 at 8:55amAndrew, I do that all the time. :)
308 | tanster Mon. Nov. 13, 2006 at 3:43pmWhat?!?!?
There’s no way this episode is better than Casino Night let alone about 10 others.
This is crazy talk.
307 | Mike Mon. Nov. 13, 2006 at 12:05pmI don’t think Jim is coming back to Scanton for Karen or Pam. He’s going back because that’s where his job is. I don’t think he is aware of Karen’s feelings, and people who think Jim is coming back to pursue Pam are going to be disappointed.
306 | littlekidlover Mon. Nov. 13, 2006 at 11:23amIt’s the little things that keep me happy.
I just spent 2 minutes clicking the header to watch the quotes change.
Maybe I’ll get going on my work now.
305 | Andrew Mon. Nov. 13, 2006 at 10:58amTotally agree with Agent Michael Scarn. I think Jim is too preoccupied with his feelings for Pam right now to know Karen is into him. He and Pam won’t go back to normal right away, and in the meantime, he’ll eventually realize Karen likes him.
Whether or not he reciprocates will be a major plot point in this season.
304 | Callan Mon. Nov. 13, 2006 at 10:22amI disagree with Jim going back because of Karen. I think it is the total opposite. He’s going back because of Pam and because it’s good for his career.
I think he likes Karen only as a friend at this point.
He still has not gotten over Pam at all. I really don’t think it has quite hit him that Karen is really into him, he’s too busy thinking about Pam.
303 | Agent Michael Scarn Mon. Nov. 13, 2006 at 6:51amVery good episode. Consistently funny and entertaining. This is the type of episode we have not seen enough of this season. It also did a good job of getting me pumped up for the next ep. I give this episode an 8.
Karen is hot. Jim/Pam/Karen will definitely be interesting.
302 | Agent Michael Scarn Mon. Nov. 13, 2006 at 6:48amSorry…ran out of space for my e-mail address. D’oh!
301 | chris Sat. Nov. 11, 2006 at 8:35pmCouple of things:
1.) Didn’t think the post (260) was male-bashing. Just male-bashing a certain kind of male that likely needs to be bashed.
2.) Many seem to think that Jim still has deep feelings for Pam, and while it’s possible, everyone has to remind themselves that he almost didn’t go back because of Pam. In fact, the only reason he is going back is because of Karen. Yes, he had a phone call with her, but it was really more like two friends catching up. One thing everyone has to remember is that Jim is a guy. We guys don’t *usually* plan out relationships in our lives as thoroughly as either we should or others seem to think we do. We’re usually just in the moment, not planning how we’re going to work one girl against another, or how the relationship is going.
Um, that’s all, really. Send all hate mail to crss…
300 | chris Sat. Nov. 11, 2006 at 8:34pm