3.24-25: The Job
Thursday, May 17th, 2007 | 748 comments
Written by: Paul Lieberstein and Michael Schur
Summary (NBC): In a special one-hour finale, the office is still buzzing from the events of their day at the beach. A job opening in Corporate pits coworker against coworker as Michael, Jim, and Karen all head to New York for final interviews. In Scranton, Dwight’s new regime institutes sweeping reforms, Pam plays an interesting role and Jan comes in with exciting news. One hour, 8-9pm.
Icon courtesy of callmelydia at LiveJournal.
Tidbits
- Blogs: Greg Daniels and B.J. Novak finale night blog
- Reviews: TV Guide | Entertainment Weekly
- Promos
- Buy The Job at the iTunes Store
Favorite quotes
Michael: I have got it made in the shade. I know this company. The other branch managers are total morons. (On phone) Hey, Pam, yeah. I forgot what day the interview was, and I drove to New York accidentally. Be, like, three hours late.
Kevin: What’s different about you? You look worse.
Meredith: He got a haircut. It’s sexy hot.
Andy: What’s up, Big Haircut? You are no longer Big Tuna. From henceforth, you shall be known as Big Haircut.
Jim: Karen suggested that I get a haircut. For the interview tomorrow. So that I could look presentable. And not, as she so lovingly puts it, homeless.
Pam: After I had my little outburst at the beach, Jim was really nice about it. He just basically said that, he missed my friendship, too, and I would always mean a lot to him, and I understand where he’s coming from. For the record, I am not embarrassed at all. It needed to be said, and I said it. And it only took me three years to summon the courage. So … (bows) thank you.
Michael: Please hand this letter of congratulations to Dwight K. Schrute.
Dwight: But that’s my name. (Reads letter) “Dwight, congratulations, a-wipe. Don’t screw the pooch.”
Michael: Stop crying.
Pam: Um, about the beach.
Karen: It’s okay. We all say things without thinking.
Pam: Oh no, it’s not that. I’ve actually been thinking that for a long time. And I’m glad I said it. I just, I’m sorry if it made you feel weird.
Karen: Oh. Okay.
Karen: Pam is … kind of a bitch.
Jim: So I was wondering if Karen and I could get off a few hours early, ’cause we want to spend the night in the city.
Michael: Why, so you could do it?
Jim: Whoops.
Michael: Convoys are really fun. Pull up next to each other. Give each other the finger. Moon each other.
Karen: Um, how would you moon us if you were driving?
Michael: Cruise control.
Karen: Oh.
Kevin: So Jim, who do you think is hotter, Pam or Karen?
Jim: Yeah, I’m not going to talk about this now.
Kevin: Pam is taller.
Jim: You sure?
Kevin: Yes. She has bigger breasts, too.
Jim: Wow.
Kevin: But I think Karen has a prettier face.
Jim: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. What else?
Kevin: Well, I mean, Pam’s face is really pretty too. It’s a very tough call.
Jim: Really tough call.
Kevin: Yeah.
Jim: You know what? Why don’t you take the rest of the day, figure it out, and then come back, and tell me what you got.
Kevin: Will do.
Jim: All right.
Kevin: Yes.
Oscar: Hey Pam? I’ve been meaning to say something to you. I really miss our friendship.
Pam: Ha, ha, that’s very funny.
Stanley: I’ve never heard you talk that much. I thought it was Kelly.
Kelly: Are you kidding? I would never have done that. It was patheticville. No offense, Pam.
Meredith: You know what? Don’t even worry about it. Everyone was so drunk, I bet no one even remembers what you said.
Creed: I remember. I blogged the whole thing.
Creed: www.creedthoughts.gov.www\creedthoughts. Check it out.
Ryan: Last year, Creed ask me how to set up a blog. Wanting to protect the world from being exposed to Creed’s brain, I opened up a Word document on his computer, and put an address at the top. I’ve read some of it. Even for the Internet, it’s … pretty shocking.
Michael: There they are. The accounting department. I shall miss your humility and your promptly printed checks.
Michael: I sold it on eBay. The buyer was very motivated, as was I. It went for 80% of what I paid. Sold in record time.
Dwight: How would you like to spend the night with the regional manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton?
Angela: No, Dwight, I don’t care if that’s how they consolidated power in ancient Rome.
Dwight: No no, not Michael. Me. I’m taking his job.
Angela: Not now. (Smiles to herself) Goodbye, Kelly Kapoor.
Dwight: Jim, Jim, Jim. Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim.
Jim: Oh, hey, Dwight.
Dwight: I’m going to be your new boss. It’s my greatest dream come true. Welcome to the Hotel Hell. Check-in time is now. Check-out time is never.
Jim: Does my room have cable?
Dwight: No. And the sheets are made of fire!
Jim: Can I change rooms?
Dwight: Sorry, we’re all booked up. Hell convention in town.
Jim: Can I have a late check-out?
Dwight: I’ll have to talk to the manager.
Jim: You’re not the manager? Even in your own fantasy?
Dwight: I’m the owner. The co-owner. With Satan.
Jim: Okay, just so I understand it. In your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Dwight: Yeah, but I haven’t told you my salary yet.
Jim: Go.
Dwight: $80,000 a year.
Dwight: Once I’m officially regional manager, my first order of business will be to demote Jim Halpert. So I will need a new number two. My ideal choice? Jack Bauer. But he is unavailable. Fictional. And overqualified.
Michael: How are you, Janet? It’s good to see you.
Michael: Pam, DEFCON 10, Houston, we have a problem.
Pam: What do you want me to do?
Michael: Uh, I may need some immediate assistance. If you would slowly and quietly gather the ladies in the conference room. Phyllis, Angela, Karen.
Pam: What about Meredith?
Michael: No. She’s an alternate.
Jan: I tried calling, but I kept getting voicemail.
Michael: Weird, yeah. I didn’t get both of your messages.
Pam: I really hope you get the job.
Pam: No, it’s fine. I’m sure it must have been weird for Jim when Roy and I were joking around. That one time.
Meredith: I would never do that. Waste of money. In my experience, guys are way more attracted to the back of you than to the front.
Kevin: I love fake boobs. Often times you find them on strippers.
Creed: I find it offensive. Au naturelle, baby. That’s how I like ‘em. Swing low, sweet chariots.
Michael: That would be shallow. And this is the opposite of shallow. This is emotionally magnificent.
Pam: I’m happy for him. I hope he gets the job. I really just want him to be happy. And I know that sounds cliche, and I know saying it sounds cliche sounds cliche. Maybe I’m being cliche, I don’t care. ‘Cause I am what I am. (Thinks about it) That’s Popeye.
Dwight: How do you make a table?
Andy: You make a chair, but you don’t sit on it.
Andy: I am a great interviewee. Why? Because I have something no one else has. My brain. Which I use to my advantage, when advantageous.
Michael: Your advice was good, but Jan’s was bigger.
Michael: Love is a mystery.
Karen: I think you’re really going to enjoy this, Adult Jim.
Michael: Good night. And good luck.
Dwight: Who’s ready to work?
Karen: We don’t have a future in Scranton. There’s one too many people there.
Jim: You mean Kevin?
Jim: Who’s that?
Michael: That is Beardie.
Michael: Daddy is the best actor around. Daddy is Meryl Streep.
Andy: Three months ago, I was nowhere. I was just a Cornell grad in anger management. Look where I am now. Not bad.
Michael: Just say, “I want to squeeze them.” It’s code, she’ll know what it means.
Pam: So you would be the regional manager, and the assistant regional manager, Andy is your number two, I would be the secret assistant regional manager.
Dwight: Mmm, let’s call it secret assistant to the regional manager.
Pam: Mm-hmm.
Dwight: Do you accept?
Pam: Absolutely I do.
Michael: Well, my weaknesses are actually strengths.
Dwight: When you have done something good, you will receive one Schrute buck. One thousand Schrute bucks equals an extra five minutes for lunch.
Dwight: Just zip your lid.
Dwight: There’s a new sheriff here in these offices. And his name is me.
Pam: I literally cannot wait until I see what Dwight has planned. And I wish Jim were here.
Michael: It is always a treat when our paths cross.
Dwight: Don’t you want to earn Schrute bucks?
Stanley: No. In fact, I’ll give you a billion Stanley nickels if you never talk to me again.
Dwight: What’s the ratio of Stanley nickels to Schrute bucks?
Stanley: The same as the ratio of unicorns to leprechauns.
Pam: Hey, c’mon! Let’s listen to Dwight’s presentation.
Michael: Let’s just run away to Jamaica, live in a bungalow.
David: Your behavior in the last two years has been completely erratic.
David: You are clearly unstable.
Michael: Hey, you’re unstable.
Jan: Yeah.
Michael: No. We’re all unstable.
Andy: It’s like I’m staring into my soul when I look at this wall.
Dwight: It’s like outer space without the stars, it’s so black.
Dwight: Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.
Jan: Good luck with your band. Don’t let them change you.
Jan: So long, [bleep].
Michael: I don’t think I could take my girlfriend’s job. That’s not being a good boyfriend.
Karen: Wow. That was some serious, hardcore, self-destruction.
Michael: Well, I guess you could come and stay at my condo. I think I could back out of the sale. Probably get some negative feedback on my eBay profile.
Jan: I could wear stretch pants and wait for you to come home at 5:15.
Michael: I’m back. For goooooood. Kevin Nealon.
Michael: Why is my office black?
Dwight: To intimidate my subordinates.
Michael: That’s stupid.
Dwight: It was Andy’s idea.
Michael: You shouldn’t have taken it.
Michael: Ryan, coffee.
Ryan: I don’t do that stuff anymore.
Michael: No, it’s for me, bimbo. Kids.
Michael: So I’m back. And I am never, ever, going to leave. I am going nowhere.
Dwight: You served the office with great dignity.
Pam: No, I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m optimistic. And I had fun goofing around with Dwight today. Jim and I are just too similar. Maybe one day I’ll find my own Karen. But, you, that is a, um, you know, not … a man. A man version. But uh, until then, I can hold my head up. I’m not gay.
Jim: So is the question how’d I get to be so awesome?
Jim: How are your feet?
Pam: Medium rare. Thanks.
Jim: The real reason that I went to Stamford was because I wanted to be … not here.
Pam: I know.
Jim: And even though I came back, I just feel like I’ve never really come back.
Pam: Well I wish you would.
Pam: I haven’t heard anything. But I bet Jim got the job. I mean, why wouldn’t he? He’s totally qualified, and smart, everyone loves him. And if he never comes back again, that’s okay. We’re friends. And I’m sure we’ll stay friends. We just … we never got the timing right. You know? I shot him down, and then he did the same to me, but you know what? It’s okay. I am totally fine. Everything is going to be totally …
Jim: Pam. (To camera) Sorry. Um, are you free for dinner tonight?
Pam: Yes.
Jim: All right. Then it’s a date.
Pam: I’m sorry, what was the question?
Kelly: Who was that?
Ryan: Nobody. You and I are done.
Kelly: What?!
Rating
Advertisement
This Week
Welcome to OfficeTally -- a blog about NBC's hit comedy, 'The Office.'
The Office Store
-
Updates @ twitter.com/officetally
Search
Ryan is such a jerk.
“Jim didn’t choose Pam because Karen lost it. Jim chose Pam because it has always been Pam, for him, all along.”
This strikes me as exactly right. He never cared as much for Karen as he did for Pam. As he told Michael in “Benihana Christmas” (in an ellipitical way), she was a rebound girl while he thought about the one who broke his heart. For me the telling detail that doomed Karen was that he never told her about him and Pam! If she really was the one they would have discussed that even before moving back to Scranton. Karen tried to hold onto him with the five late night talks, but she never stood a chance.
Who needs a quote, when Pam’s face spoke volumes at the end of Season 3? Seeing her elated and tearing up at the same time is priceless.
Bravo Jenna!!!!
Can anyone help me out, here? I’ve only recently discovered this marvelous show, and am trying to catch up on over three seasons of fairly complex relationship history.
In her TH near the end of ‘The Job’, when Pam is trying to convince the camera crew that she’s fine with Jim leaving, she says that she shot him down and later he did the same to her. Now, I know when she rejected him (in the flashback scene in ‘Gay Witch Hunt’). But when did Jim reject her? Or was it implied by his relationship with Karen?
#745:
And don’t forget that Karen wanted to keep escalating the “party wars” in ‘Benihana Christmas’. It was Pam who reconciled the office family by reachking out to Angela.
Karen was beautiful and smart. But she was also cold and hard - and totally inappropriate for Jim.
hi Callan, I didn’t know that. Great pickup! Writers put in references like these all the time. So cool that you saw it, and thanks so much for sharing!
Did anyone notice in the deleted scenes of The Job that when Michael is talking about his apartment in Jamaica, Queens, he says his roommate is a “B.J. Chokalingham”? That of course refers to B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling’s real last name.
the first episode of season 4 will take place two months after the last episode of season 3. at least from what i heard. but its gonna be greaat! i cant wait!
My friends at blockbuster were able to rent the last disc of season 3 before it comes out. and the blooper reel is hilarious. But one thing we do know through a deleted scene is that Jan did move into Michael’s condo.
Uhhh Sept. 27th is soooooo far away =[
I know this aired ten-weeks ago, but having just discovered this site need to comment:
Karen:
1. moved with Jim when Stamford closed after only knowing him for A MONTH (!)
2. insisted on moving with Jim to New York
3. was often forceful and pushy
4. made Jim feel he needed to change himself for her
5. called Pam a bitch - in the office - to the crew
6. pranks with her weren’t as fun or funny (note the dinner party prank)
7. said Pam was ‘in the way’ and that he needed to abandon her for them
8. laughed at Jan’s implosion
Conclusion? Jim’s Christmas party acknowledgment of his ‘rebound’ relationship with Karen was not quite as ‘fun’ as he initially thought it’d be and realized she was not for him, and leaving her was best. Considering the realism in the writing a healthy guy would run from such a relationship once seen.
“Why is my office black?”
“To intimidate my subordinates.”
gotta love Dwight
ok change of mind in lieu of recent spoilers - jim & pam are going out but are trying to keep it under wraps because karen is still there. they ARE taking it slow though. i mean, they have been waiting 3+ years to do this. i don’t think they would want to ruin it, and i also think that they have yet to figure out a lot of things with each other (romantically, i mean). regardless of that, they’re taking a “step up”. that’s enough jammy goodness for me!
kelly’s definitely going haywire. i bet she’ll like, stalk ryan at corporate or something. and i doubt angela will get pregnant; that would just be weird. but that’s what they’re relationship ship is all about … i think jan will be the one getting knocked up. can you imagine that? oh goodness season 4, premier already!
I seriously doubt that Jim would dump karen and straight out ask Pam to go on a date if they weren’t going to date in S4. I think S4 is going to at least take place a month after, and they will be dating for that amount of time.
R.I.P Karen… you had a good run :)
To me, the first show doesn’t need a recap of Jim and Pam’s blossoming relationship. I would love to see Pam working on her art, and how it has changed from “motel art” to something amazing since she started becoming more honest with herself.
I would also love for the cold open to be Kelly going nuclear in a talking head about Ryan.
Taylor — I don’t think that S4 will start with a Jim or Pam talking head saying that they decided to take it slow. Instead, I think we will see a lot of ackward moments between the two of them as they try to balance work and relationship time (esp. with Karen still around). My guess is that this ackwardness will carry on for a good amount of the season. I don’t think we’ll get a “just friends” talking head, but instead there will be an unsaid/alluded to cooling off period.
i really don’t think that when the show starts in september jim or pam will do a talking head explaining why they decided to “just be friends”. that would be two real seasons of build-up for nothing! and i think angela will get pregnant… can’t wait till season 4! go jam!
Well its obviously not going to be a happily ever after scenerio in only season 4. But I think they’ll be dating, just taking it fairly slow. Pretty much the same situation as season 2, but without Roy.
I’m sad to admit it, but I’m inclide to agree with Sara. Look at the Netflix teaser - “Jim and Pam navigating a tentative romance.” Tension keeps the show fresh. My guess is that Jim and Pam decide to take things slow, but can’t quite make it over the next hurdle (whatever that is).
That said, I predict that we should brace ourselves for a Jam prank “rein of terror” on Dwight & Andy as Jim and Pam try to find a balance in their relationship.
i don’t think they’ll show the date, and i don’t think they’ll last either. i think pam will do a talking head about how they decided to “take it slow” or just “remain friends”, especially if karen is still there. i think maybe karen will leave but will have to stay till the end of the quarter (aka october), adding extra tension. but i think they will get together either at the end of this season or in the 5th; the tension makes the show and i’m glad we’re seeing something new with jam (just as long as karen’s gone, i’m happy!)