Getting to Maybe: The Office - Season 3, Episode 17

Ok, I know this is a week late but better late than never, right?

This episode was directed by J.J. Abrams - the creator of Lost.

The episode starts with Michael attempting a magic trick where he is in a straight jacket - in full bondage with chains and locks - and says he will escape. We see a little key hidden in his mouth. Michael insists that nobody help him out under any circumstance.

Michael: A lot of people think that magic camp is just for kids. And that’s why so many other people in my class were kids. Self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s really for anybody with a dream and a belief in magic, and a little extra time after school.

Michael drops the key and Jim hides the key with his foot. Michael can't escape.

We find out that Michael, Jan and Jim were invited to a cocktail party for Dunder Mifflin Managers at David Wallace's home in Mount Vernon. He is Dunder Mifflin's chief financial officer. Michael brings along Dwight (because how could they have an episode without Dwight?!?!?) and Jim brings along Karen.

Michael: Tonight is so special because my boss’ boss’ boss, the CFO, not his initials, common mistake, is having a little shindig for all the managers in the company, and Jan and I are going as a couple, for the first time. So it’s kind of our coming out party, really. And that is why tonight is so special.

Jim isn't so interested in going.

Jim: Why don’t I wanna go … didn’t expect to need a reason. So let me think here … I don’t know any of these people. It’s an obligation. I don’t like talking paper in my free time, (softly) or in my work time. And … did I use the word pointless?

Michael carpools with Dwight and arrives very early. The hostess (wife of David Wallace) is still in her bath robe. He offers her the potato salad he brought and tells us that it was sitting in his car all day so nobody should eat it.

(Jan on speaker phone in Michael's car, with Dwight listening)

Jan: Let’s just blow this party off.
Michael: That’s what she said!

Jan: Okay, let’s just go a motel and, like, rip into each other like we did on that black sand beach in Jamaica.

Meanwhile, at the Scranton office everyone else is planning on going to Poor Richard's Pub. Roy isn't interested in going because him and his brother are supposed to get "hammered" because of some sale of jet skis. Pam isn't happy.

Pam: Hey. You have to come to stuff with me. I’m serious. If you’re going to be my boyfriend, you have to do boyfriend things.

Pam: I have decided that I’m going to be more honest. I’m going to start telling people what I want, directly. So, look out world, ’cause ol’ Pammie is getting what she wants. And don’t call me Pammie.

Back at the cocktail party, Dwight is being overly intrusive about David Wallace's home. He asks about the construction, the price...etc.

Dwight: What’s the square footage?
David: About 5,000.
Dwight: Does that include the garage?
Michael: Dwight, that’s not appropriate.
David: I don’t know.
Dwight: It’s a common question.
Michael: David, how much did this house cost?

Outside of the party Jan and Michael have a talk about this coming out to their colleagues. Jan asks Michael to sign a document.

Jan: It releases the company in the event that our relationship in your opinion or in reality interferes with work. You get a copy, I get a copy, and a third copy goes to HR.
Michael: Awesome. I’m going to frame mine. I could frame yours, too.
Jan: You realize this is a legal document that says you can’t sue the company?
Michael: Over our love.
Jan: I never told you that I love you.
Michael: You don’t have to, Jan. This contract says it all.

Jan: I am taking a calculated risk. What’s the upside? I overcome my nausea, fall deeply in love, babies, normalcy, no more self-loathing. Downside, I date Michael Scott publicly and collapse into myself like a dying star.

Jan: Why is this so hard? That’s what she said. Oh my god. What am I saying?

We see Jan really is falling in love with Michael!

Dwight continues to lurk around the party asking questions and inspecting the condition of the home.

Dwight: Do you ever watch Battlestar Galactica?
Party guest: No.
Dwight: No? Then you’re an idiot.

At the same time Karen and Jim are having their own issues. Apparently Karen has dated some guys who were at the party and puts Jim on notice of that. It causes a bit of awkwardness with Jim.

Karen: Well if you were wondering why his wife was staring daggers at me, it’s because I kind of saw him for a little bit when they were separated.

Michael tries to talk about him and Jan's relationship to people and Jan gets very embarrassed. She pulls Michael into a bathroom. She has only one thing on her mind.

Michael: What has gotten into you? No, no, no, no!
Jan: What?
Michael: Come on, let’s go back to the party.
Jan: Come on, wait, let me just do my dress.
Michael: Don’t take that — no! Stop it. Stop it. Jan, no, no, no, no!
Jan: Michael!
Michael: No means please don’t.
Jan: Slam me up against the wall, right here.
Michael: I’m not going to slam you against anything.
Jan: Oh please, I want you so –
Michael: You’re acting inappropriate.
Jan: I’m acting inappropriate? Forget it, get out of my way.

Dwight sneaks up into David Wallace's son's room while he is sleeping and sits in a chair. Creepy.

Dwight: Oh good, you’re up. Hey who makes this chair?
David’s son: I don’t know, it was here when I was born.
Dwight: Hmm. I want one. Really good solid construction. It’s comfortable. What is this? Oak?
David’s son: I don’t know.
Dwight: What do you know?

Jim then gets invited to go shoot hoops with David Wallace in the backyard. Karen finds a good moment to poke a little fun at Jim.

Jim: You stay here and have fun, ’cause I’m gonna go out back and shoot hoops with David Wallace.
Karen: Okay! Oh, don’t mention that you and I are dating, ’cause I think he may still have feelings for me.
Jim: Wallace? What the hell, have you dated like every guy here? (Karen laughs.) Wow. Okay. You got me.
Karen: I so got you.
Jim: So none of them?
Karen: Of course not. I mean, you’re kind of like, my first.
Jim: Really?
Karen: Omigod, it’s so easy …
Jim: Okay.
Karen: … it’s not even fun.

While playing basketball David asks Jim what's up with Michael and Jan. Jim says "I don’t know. Where to begin …"

Back at the bar the office staff are having a good time. Creed knows all the underage kids because he sold them fake ID's.

The group is playing a drinking game and Roy tells Pam he knows everything about her and she can't hide anything from him. In a sudden moment of insanity she spills the beans on everything she hasn't told him in the past.

Roy: What?
Pam: I want us to make it. I want a fresh start.
Roy: That’s awesome. That’s what I want.
Pam: Okay, but in order for us to make it, there can’t be any secrets between us.
Roy: I didn’t do anything, ask anybody, I totally could have, but I didn’t at all.
Pam: Just listen. Remember that casino night, about a month before we were supposed to get married? I kissed Jim.
Roy: What?
Pam: He told me how he felt, and I guess I had feelings too, and we kissed.
Roy: Jim came on to you?
Pam: Just listen.
Roy: No, I am listening. That’s the problem, I’m listening!
Pam: Don’t yell!
Roy: Don’t yell?!
Pam: This is over.
Roy: Yeah, you’re right. This is so over. You kidding me, Pam? Come on!

Roy doesn't take the news well. He completely trashes the bar by throwing around chairs and glasses and breaks things. We then see Pam sneak out of the bar. Oh Pammie!

Roy: I’m gonna kill Jim Halpert.

The cocktail party is over and Michael and Jan are in the car driving home. They had a fight during the party and Jan is wondering if she made the right decision to go public with this relationship.

Michael: Our first fight. If this is about what happened in the bathroom, there was no place to cuddle.
Jan: I feel sick.
Michael: You didn’t have any of the potato salad, did you?
Jan: You know, we were good when we were just running around. You know? In secret, it was wrong, and it was exciting, and maybe it was a mistake to take it public.
Michael: Well, if that’s the way you feel, my lady, then you have hurt me greatly.
Jan: Michael, please don’t cry.

Dwight is actually in the back seat of Michael's car and he pops up and begs them not to break up.
Michael: I want the house, Jan, I want the picket fence, I want the ketchup fights, and the tickling, and the giggling.