Business Trip

"Business Trip" is the eighth episode of the fifth season of the television series The Office, and the show's eightieth episode overall. The episode aired in the United States on November 13, 2008 on NBC.

In this episode, Michael, Oscar and Andy are sent to Winnipeg, Manitoba on a business trip, where Michael has trouble understanding the actual purpose of the concierge and Andy and Oscar bond. Meanwhile, Jim and the rest of the office eagerly wait for Pam's return from art school.

Synopsis

CFO David Wallace (Andy Buckley) sends Michael (Steve Carell) on a foreign sales call to Winnipeg to help alleviate the stress of having Holly taken away from him. He brings along Andy (Ed Helms) as a "foreign language translator" (despite the fact that Winnipeg is in the English speaking region of Canada) and Oscar (Oscar Nunez) as the "numbers guy". David Wallace tells him to go to the concierge to find activities to do in the city. Michael finds himself attracted to the concierge, Marie (Wendi McLendon-Covey), and, thinking that the concierge is the Winnipeg version of a Geisha, mistakes her as some kind of prostitute. Michael runs into Marie at a bar later that night. They have a few drinks and head back to her hotel room. After suggested brief and impersonal intercourse, Marie kicks Michael out of her room and he walks away, depressed.

Back at the bar, Andy unsuccessfully attempts to set Oscar up with a couple of guys. A few drinks later, Oscar asks Andy what he sees in Angela (Angela Kinsey). Andy says he sees something behind her strict behavior before mentioning that they have not had sex yet. Oscar is shocked and tells Andy to call Angela about this. Andy calls Angela, who is with Dwight (Rainn Wilson), and tells her he does not like the fact they have not had sex yet. Angela berates him for calling her while drunk and hangs up on him.

The next morning, Andy and Oscar reminisce about the night before, with Oscar bringing up Andy's call to Angela. Andy does not remember and calls Angela to apologize. He says afterward that Angela has put them back on "first base", which for her means that Andy gets to kiss her forehead. Andy tells Oscar he appreciated his company on the trip, and Oscar feels the same way about Andy. Michael secures the sale with the client and calls David Wallace, who congratulates him. Michael then tells him he had a terrible time in Winnipeg and berates him for taking Holly away from him before abruptly hanging up. He then gets on the plane back to Scranton, mentioning he has stayed with the company for a long time because they give him enough respect that he could talk down his boss and not be fired.

Back in Scranton, Jim (John Krasinski) and the rest of the staff are eagerly counting down the days until Pam (Jenna Fischer) returns from art school, with the staff awkwardly and intrusively showing their excitement for Jim. Pam is upset that she failed a class and calls Jim to tell him that she would need to stay in New York for another three months to retake it. Pam is unsure if she wants to spend another three months away from Jim, but Jim reminds her that she went to New York for her own personal benefit and should only return to Scranton "the right way". The rest of the staff find out about her situation and feel sorry for the two of them, save for Dwight who criticizes Pam's painting of the office building on the wall. At the end of the day, Jim finds Pam waiting in the parking lot. Pam tells Jim that she is coming back "the wrong way" not because of him, but because she ultimately did not like graphic design and that Scranton is her home. Jim welcomes her back and they kiss, though the moment is ruined by Dwight who demands that Pam photocopy some documents for him.

Meanwhile, Ryan (B. J. Novak) moves back to the annex with Kelly (Mindy Kaling) in preparation for Pam's return and starts showing off by doing push ups in front of her. Kelly says she has no intention of breaking up with Darryl (Craig Robinson) and restarting a relationship with Ryan, but the two begin kissing passionately. Ryan tells Kelly to break up with Darryl via text message, and Darryl responds immediately saying he's okay with it. Ryan is shocked at Darryl letting it go easily, and Darryl is shown happily walking to his truck. At the end of the episode, Ryan and Kelly confirm they are back together, with Ryan visibly uncomfortable like he was before in their relationship.

References

External links

• "Business Trip" at NBC.com
• "Business Trip" at the Internet Movie Database