3.06: Diwali
Thursday, November 2nd, 2006 | 269 comments
Written by: Mindy Kaling
Summary (NBC): Michael encourages the Scranton branch to attend a local celebration of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. As Ryan nervously faces Kelly’s family at the event, Michael, new girlfriend Carol, and the staff sample a range of Indian culture and cuisine. Meanwhile, Andy convinces Jim to turn a late night of work into a drinking game.
Icon courtesy of brandyhall_art at LiveJournal.
Tidbits
- NBC videos: 2-Minute Replay | Deleted Scene 1 | Deleted Scene 2 | Deleted Scene 3 | Deleted Scene 4 | Deleted Scene 5
- Blogs: John the prop guy’s MySpace blog | Jenna’s MySpace blog | Angela’s MySpace blog | Kate’s TV Guide blog
- Reviews: Entertainment Weekly | TV Guide | Northern Attack
- The song Jim and Andy sing is “Closer to Fine” by Indigo Girls.
- Buy Diwali at the iTunes Store
Favorite quotes
Michael (snickering): Nice dress, Ryan.
Kelly: It’s not a dress. It’s a kurta.
Michael: Tonight, one of our most ethnic co-workers, Kelly, has invited us all to a Diwali celebration put on by her community. What is Diwali, you may ask. Well, to have Kelly explain it, (silly high voice) it’s … blah blah blah … it’s so super fun, and it’s gonna be great, lot of gods with unpronounceable names, twenty minutes you find out it is essentially a Hindu Halloween.
Michael: How come you didn’t get me one?
Meredith: Do you wanna make appletinis and watch Sex in the City at my place?
Kelly: I mean I thought we were really close friends.
Dwight: Maybe you’ve got mono.
Kevin (tittering): Oh, you mean, like is Pam going?
Angela: Don’t go. They eat monkey brains.
Michael: Indians do not eat monkey brains. And if they do, sign me up. Because I am sure they are very tasty. And nutritional.
Michael (to Stanley): Come Kwanzaa time, I have got you covered, baby.
Stanley: I don’t celebrate Kwanzaa.
Michael: … I don’t want them embarrassing me in front of my girlfriend Carol.
Michael: So without further adieu, Kelly! You are on.
Kelly: Um, Diwali is awesome. And there’s food, and there’s going to be dancing. And oh, I got the raddest outfit. It has, um, sparkles …
Michael: Kelly? Um, why don’t you tell us a little bit about the origins of the holiday?
Kelly: Oh, um, I don’t know, it’s really old, I think.
Angela: How many gods do you have?
Kelly: Like hundreds, I think. Maybe more than that.
Angela: And that blue, busty gal — what’s her story?
Kevin: She looks like Pam from the neck down.
Dwight: Pam wishes.
Dwight: Kelly, I’ll take this one. Diwali is a celebration of the coronation god king Rama after his epic battle with Ravena, the demon king of Lanka. It symbolizes the battle between good and evil.
Michael: All right, all right. This isn’t Lord of the Rings.
Jim: I started biking to work. Josh does it. And he lives a lot farther away than I do. And also, it saves gas money, it keeps me in shape, helps the environment. And now I know it makes me really sweaty for work.
Karen: Nice basket.
Jim: Thank you!
Michael: Apu, from The Simpsons. Hilarious Indian.
Dwight: I see dead people.
Michael: Okay! Spoiler alert.
Dwight: He was dead the whole time.
Michael: Just stop it!
Chip dude: Karen, my chips got stuck in the vending machine again. I need your … skinny little arms …
Karen: Oh. Did you shake it?
Chip dude: Yeah, I shook it, I shook it …
Andy: We have such a roller coaster thing, Karen and I.
Jim: Excuse me?
Andy: Rollercoastery friendship. Hot and cold. On again, off again. Sexual tension-filled type of deal. It’s very Sam and Diane.
Jim: Wow.
Andy: From Cheers.
Jim: Yup.
Andy: Yeah.
Michael: And another thing about the Indian people, they love sex positions. I present to you The Kama Sutra. I mean, look at that. Who has seen that before?
Creed: I have, that’s the union of the monkey.
Meredith: Oh, that’s what they call it.
Kevin: This is the best meeting we have ever had.
Michael: Thank you, Kevin.
Angela: I find this incredibly offensive.
Michael: Well, I find it beautiful.
Michael: No, this is delightful, charming culture.
Michael: My Indian cultural seminar was going great until Toby decided that he was too immature to deal with culturally explicit images. It’s just sex, people. Everybody does it. I’m doing it with Carol. Probably tonight.
Josh: Now Karen, let’s keep it to $20 a person this time.
Andy: You guys ready to party?
Phyllis: Isn’t this fun, not wearing shoes?
Angela: I wish some of us still had our shoes on.
Kevin: Stop it. It’s a disease. I’ve … told you.
Kevin (tittering at Carol): Nice outfit.
Angela: I’m a vegetarian. What can I eat?
Buffet dude: It’s all vegetarian.
Angela: I’ll just have some bread. (As she’s walking away) You used your hands.
Michael: These smores are disgusting.
Carol: They’re not smores. They’re samosas.
Michael: Do you think they have any smores?
Michael: All they are is chocolate, graham cracker, and marshmallow. How difficult would that have been?
Kelly: Leave him alone! I hate you guys.
Ryan: They said something about Zach Braff.
Pam (as she’s getting her hand stamped): That’s very official.
Pam: I feel a little underdressed. But at least I’m not dressed like a slutty cheerleader, right? Is that mean?
Kelly’s mom: Ryan is a temporary worker, makes no money. Wali is a whole doctor. So handsome, makes good money.
Kelly’s dad: How long have you been married to the cheerleader?
Michael: Who is this crazy gringo and what is he talking about?
Carol: This is our ninth date, Michael.
Michael: I feel like I’ve known you many lifetimes. Maybe I’m Hindu after all. Okay, I’m not Hindu.
Ryan: Well, I was a temp, but I got promoted. So, um, the compensation is a lot more competitive.
Kelly’s mom: So you’re saving money now to start a family and home?
Ryan: Oh, um, or travel. And, um, and buy an Xbox.
Kelly’s dad: Is there anything you wanted to ask us tonight?
Pam: How’s the naan?
Angela: Dry. You looked like you were having fun.
Pam: I am. You should come dance with us.
Angela: I have to watch our shoes, so they don’t get stolen.
Andy (singing): I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains, I looked to the children …
Karen: Andy, no a’cappella!
Andy: I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain …
Andy and Jim: There’s more than one answer, to your questions, pointing me in crooked line …
Andy: Wait, wait …
Andy and Jim: … the less I seek my source …
Karen: Oh come on guys, please.
Andy and Jim: … the closer I am to fine, closer I am to fine …
Karen: It’s not good.
Andy: Tuna?! Are you kidding me?!!!
Michael: We are both the victims of broken engagements.
Pam: Well, you were never really engaged.
Michael: I was in that marriage … arena, though.
Pam: I kind of thought something would happen tonight, too.
Pam: What are you doing?
Michael: What are you doing?
Pam: I’m rejecting your kiss.
Michael: Can I have a ride home?
Pam: If you sit in the back.
Karen: Hey, dummy, get in the car.
Jim: And I am just going to lie down in the back, if that’s alright.
Karen: Sure! Here’s your bag. Just don’t puke on anything. (Gets in car) You okay?
Jim: So good.
Karen: Good.
Michael: These are not my shoes.
Michael: This is just like that show, Taxi Cab Confessions.
Pam: You say one more word, I’m stopping the car.
Michael: Sorry.
The Diwali Song
Diwali is
A festival of lights
Let me tell you something
Tonight has been
One crazy night …
So put on your saris
It’s time to celebrate Diwali
Everybody looks so jolly
But it’s not Christmas, it’s Diwali
The goddess of destruction, Kali
Stopped by to celebrate Diwali
Don’t invite any zombies
To our celebration of Diwali
Along came Polly
To have some fun at Diwali
If you’re Indian and you love to party
Have a happy, happy
Happy, happy Diwali!
This Week
Watch 'Frame Toby' promos here.
Angela Kinsey appears today on the Roe Conn show WLS-AM 890, sometime from 2-7pm Central time. Tipster: Janice
NBC Store
The Office Seasons 1-4 DVD
It's the ultimate package!
(That's what she said.)
Latest Updates
Search
ahh I know Hindi so I understood the Zach Braff bit.
Kelly’s sisters were saying “Kelly prefers Zach Braff.” And Ryan replies “what’d you say about Zach Braff”.
great episode and a funny song. They hit the nail on the head on this episode!
Its wonderful, Sweet!
I know BJ Novak writes sometimes for the show, but I cant stand his character (Ryan). Is it just me?
I am pretty sure someone hasn’t already said this, but at the end of this episode when Pam is taking home Michael and Karen is taking home Jim, you have the same moment, but totally different situations because Karen WANTS to take home Jim and taking home Michael is the last this Pam wants to do.
I have one last comment related to cars - sort of…
Between Jim bicycling to work and the car pool discussion at the beginning of the episode, I thought that Mindy was intentionally emphasizing alternative transit in this episode. And I think that is VERY COOL and something you don’t see a whole lot on TV nowadays (especially since TV shows are trying to get ad dollars from car companies).
this episode show how much Jim and Pam are alike.
Jim is usually the one who is there to talk to Michael after he’s humiliated himself, like in the Booze Cruise. But in this episode is was Pam who was there for Michael… even after he tried to kiss her she gave him a ride home.
each episode has so much deleted material. they need to make The Office into an hour long show
i lovge jim in non-homosexual ways lol
hes great i love this SHOW
Thanks, JK, I feel exactly the same way.
I think it’s pretty obvious that I freaking love this show. I think that what people forget is the thing that makes this show great is that all the characters are fundamentally flawed. I am rooting for Jim and Pam just like everyone else, but at the same time I like the Karen storyline and look forward to seeing how it will play out after the merger.
I would never presume to be an expert- I don’t tivo the episodes and go back and watch them over and over again. I watch them as they come out, and I don’t even own the season 2 DVD (yet). I am totally open to other people’s take on things and love hearing them!
Anti-soccermom - thanks for your comments :) Seriously, this is one of the few forums I’ve been on where I feel like people really want to discuss things intelligently and not resort to nasty barbs. I can see what you mean in everything you wrote. Either I’m just getting better and understanding other points of view, or people are responding in a way that doesn’t seem attack-ish. I really enjoy being part of a rational discussion about Jim and Pam, rather than just an “OOOH, I want them to be together” or “They can’t bring them together or it will ruin the show” debate.
That makes perfect sense! Thanks!
I’ve always thought the declaration in the parking lot was #1 and then the kiss and him asking if she was still planning on marrying Roy was #2.
I’ve always thought the declaration in the parking lot was 1 and then the kiss and him asking if she was still planning on marrying Roy was 2.
I’ve pored through all sorts of threads and have rewatched all the episodes looking for the second instance where Jim put himself out there for Pam. Am I missing something beyond Casino Night?
JK,
Over at the NBC office boards we have a person who writes about Jim and Pam from every episode- we all thought the same thing about the flashback until we all read this- it helps a lot and is very thought out. Its a lot to read but definitely worth the read- I learned a lot:
The Pam Dichotomy: S3, Season 3 Addenda
The Jim Paradox S3, Season 3 Addenda
One more thing and then I’ll shut up (though I make no guarantees):
You also should take into consideration that Pam did have feelings for Roy- this is evident by her body language when Roy leaves Casino Night, and countless other times that I won’t list now. She constantly defended his bad behavior and often seemed oblivious to what a jerk he was. So she was probably feeling a tremendous amount of guilt about the kiss and any feelings that she was having towards Jim. This guilt wouldn’t go away even after she called off the wedding.
Believe it or not JK, I agree with you. Which seems like it’s a contradiction to what I said before, so let me explain:
I thought the whole “flashback” thing was weird and completely out of place in the scope of the whole TV show, simply because it doesn’t fit with the “mockumentary” concept. But, in the show’s defense, it did it’s job. I also think that there was another confrontation between Jim and Pam that we haven’t heard about yet. I said that after Convention when Jim said that he put himself out there twice. I think that Casino night was once and that there was one other time. I mean, it’s not like Jim cleaned out his desk and disappeared right after the kiss happened- there had to be some time after that that Jim and Pam still had to exist in the same office. As far as Jim just walking away when she said that she was still marrying Roy- what else was he supposed to do? He told her he loved her and he kissed her- and she still turned him down. I would assume he was hurt and humiliated and just wanted to get out of there.
I liked Jenna’s blog because she offered insight into what Pam’s feeling- and some explanation as to why Pam wouldn’t contact Jim as soon as she called the wedding off. But it certainly still leaves a lot to speculation, and I’m sure that’s intentional on Jenna’s part.
I do agree with the way the writers are handling the whole thing- Jim and Pam should not be together yet; but they do need to be in the same office again.
To offer a bit of personal insight in addition to Jenna’s take on things- I married my high school sweetheart, and a few years ago we almost split (thank god we didn’t and are 15 years strong now). I can tell you that the last thing that was on my mind was getting involved with someone else. I was wrapping my brain around the idea that I’d have to learn to stand on my own two feet and be my own person. I like to think that’s what Pam is doing right now.
JK, drew, et al: Wanted to express a few random thoughts about the Jim/Pam thread: As mentioned, I’m pretty new to “The Office” & in fact just saw the first episode of the UK “Office” the other day. It is the same script as the American pilot, as you all likely know.
What struck me about the UK version was the poignancy of the Tim-Dawn relationship. There’s an undercurrent of longing, wistfulness, & a slightly more serious tone than the US version. It’s not as cheery, upbeat or (sometimes) as stagey as the US version. Tim expresses his desire to return to university for example…marooned dreams aplenty in that office…the whole set of characters is kind of pathetic and their being thrown togther in the same offfice, and being filmed while at it, just throws into relief each person’s personal failings, character flaws and loneliness. The Tim/Dawn-Jim/Pam thing is the one beacon of light in the whole thing, & it highlights the striving for the ideal and lets you hope for it.
I think there are , amidst the satire, and the recent zaniness, moments of deep poignancy in the US version, also. For example, and I don’t think this has really been brought out definitively, but Pam, as we have been discussing here, is “not a go-getter” — she is a lovely young woman who has not been on a trajectory in life that will allow her to develop all her capacities and talents, nor has she engaged in relationships that nurture her soul. She’s stuffed away her talent for drawing, for example, and allowed Roy (truly a destructive force for her) to deny her the chance to advance this talent. Yet in several instances, she’s pushed away Jim, who truly values her, cares about her “thoughts and feelings” and encourages her to develop her talents, and her motivation is that she, in a nutshell, does not value herself enough to be open to such possibilities - in a word “low self-esteem.” Not a “go-getter”. That is why women like Pam, chumps basically, allow men like Roy into their lives. It’s a breakthrough that she could separate from Roy, strike out on her own, take art classes, and…eventually (it wouldn’t be believable if it happened overnight) she’ll be able to be a part of an intimate relationship that will let her soul thrive.
So, as I said, I will be inconsolable if they don’t get togther! The chemistry of these two actors togther is really a wonderful thing.
Pardon me if I’m off-topic here; it is just really fun discussing this - have been starved to do so for quite a few weeks now!
“GWH did a great job explaining what happenned with Jim and Pam,”
I disagree, Anti-soccermom. That opening scene was totally implausible to me. I can’t imagine that Jim would simply walk away after all he put on the line (I mean, why didn’t he say, “Why are you going to marry him? Do you really love him? Do you love ME?” Why let it drop the way he did?). And what was with Pam’s “we’re drunk” line? After she admitted that she wanted to kiss him, too? She wasn’t drunk and she knew it. If that’s what happened - and I think there was more to it that we haven’t seen yet, hopefully some sort of keeper explanation that will put things into perspective - then I think it was poorly written, poorly acted, or poorly edited (or all three). I know that sounds harsh, but I do feel that strongly about it. If I were a new viewer and that was all the explanation I’d been given after all the NBC hype over Jim and Pam, I’d be totally unimpressed and would not tune in again.
“Jenna wrote a great explanation about why Pam isn’t with Jim in her myspace blog.”
I read that, too, and it seemed a little contrived to me. Why are the cast and crew so forthcoming about some explanations and yet so secretive about others? If it had been done well in the series itself, it wouldn’t require further explanation, I don’t think.
No, they don’t have to appease JAM fans. But they must be doing what they’re doing with the understanding that they might be losing some old fans and/or are alienating some new fans, too.