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"Traveling Salesmen" is the twelfth episode of the third season of the US version of The Office. It aired January 11, 2007, and is the seventh episode directed by series showrunner Greg Daniels.

Synopsis

Template:Spoiler The episode opens with a sequence wherein Michael dresses the rear of his flat screen computer monitor with novelty teeth, a tiny Fez and Post-It eyes and commands it to say rude things to Jim and Pam via a text-to-speech application on his computer.

Early in the episode, Kevin informs Angela that the corporate office has yet to receive important tax documents and warns Angela that if she forgot to send them in, "it is a big deal." Shortly, we see Dwight returning to the office, where Angela has perched herself near reception. Angela asks if everything is okay, and Dwight informs her that she "is in the clear." Anglea is visibly relieved.

Sales calls

Dwight, fresh from the road, arrives late to the Michael's "dream team" sales meeting, prompting taunts from Andy regarding his tardiness. Micheal informs them that at Andy Bernard's suggestion, they'll be pairing up for sales-call duty. Given first choice, Andy selects Michael, flattering him. Phyllis, whom Michael calls a "resident senior" picks Karen. Told he cannot select "pass", Stanley selects Ryan. Dwight is angered when he is left to partner with Jim. Dwight seeks coworkers willing to trade, but as Jim is the sole volunteer, the four pairs head out to the parking lot.

Michael tosses a bag of laundry to Dwight who tosses it into his Trans Am. Michael dubs the sales calls The Amazing Race, prompting some confusion, as he explains that it is not a true race, nor will prizes be awarded. To supplement his statement, he assigns each pair a nickname based on previous contenders from Race. Michael dubs Stanley and Ryan "the retired Marines", Phyllis and Karen "mother and daughter", Jim and Dwight "the gay couple", and his own team "the firefighter heroes". Before heading out, Michael snatches Phyllis's car keys from her hand and tosses them underneath her vehicle. Upon the team's departure, Angela invites Pam for coffee.

Facilitated by a series of unique stationary in-car shots, the sales calls unfold.

Andy and Michael

Andy, riding shotgun in Michael's "carriage" continually badmouths Dwight and questions Michael as to why Dwight is doing his laundry. Michael explains that Dwight's laundry duty is punishment for attempting to take Michael's job in a secret meeting with Jan.

At the sales call, Michael's attempt to push the small-town personal feel of Dunder-Mifflin is thwarted as Andy interrupts with tales of his privileged upbringing and boasting of the company's status as an NYSE-listed company. Afterward Andy apologizes, tells Michael he really "Schruted it".

Stanley and Ryan

En route, Ryan asks Stanley if he can take the lead on the sales call, and the older man happily accepts. The pair meet with three black men in the lobby of their business; one of the men knows Stanley. Ryan, flustered, is unable to mutter anything but "Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi." Later Stanley mocks Ryan for his ineptitude, comparing his behavior to that of his six-month-old niece.

Jim and Dwight

For safety, Dwight sits in the back seat of Jim's Saab leaving the shotgun seat empty. At the sales call, the pair enact a seemingly pre-rehearsed sales call routine, wherein Jim dials Dunder-Mifflin customer service and Kelly answers immediately and amicably as Dwight dials what he says is a competing paper company and is put on hold for several minutes. Jim reveals that he and Dwight used to go on sales calls in the past.

Phyllis and Karen

Phyllis drives to a nearby beauty salon and purchases a beauty treatment she describes as "makeovers" for the pair, later revealed to be a shrewd move as their client's wife sports a similar look. Phyllis mentions her happiness for Karen and Jim's relationship as she had worried he would never overcome his crush on Pam, inadvertently revealing its existence to Karen.

Angela and Pam

At a coffee shop, Pam notices Angela's happy glow and inquires. Angela tells Pam a thinly-veiled story of her friend "Noelle", who missed a deadline to send in important documents to corporate in New York and the "gallant gentleman", "Kurt" who drove the documents all the way to New York and handed them in for her. Pam glances knowingly at the camera.

Dwight's decision

Upon their return, Karen invites Jim to coffee where he assures her his crush on Pam has passed and he is glad that Karen is in Scranton. Meanwhile, Andy steals Dwight's car keys and searches through his car revealing a tollbooth ticket to New York. Andy coaxes Michael into believing that Dwight has gone behind his back to the corporate office, profferring the stolen evidence. Michael and Andy then demand an explanation from Dwight.

In a consultation with Angela, it is made clear that Dwight will have to choose between betraying Angela by making their relationship public or betraying Michael by withholding information about his whereabouts that morning. Shortly after, Dwight announces his resignation:

Although I love this company more than almost anything in the world, I have decided to step down from my post and spend more time with my family. I do not fear the unknown. I will meet my new challenges head-on, and I will succeed, and I will laugh in the faces of those who doubt me. It's been a pleasure working with some of you, and I will not forget those of you soon. But remember, while today it is me, we all shall fall. In other words, I'm quitting, so...

He bequeaths his box of desk items to Michael, but pulls away two bobblehead dolls, including the likeness of himself. On his way out, Dwight approaches and embraces Jim who is walking with Karen through the parking lot, confusing the two; both were talking over coffee when Dwight's resignation occurred. Andy gloats to the camera about his clever plan to get rid of Dwight while Angela vengefully glares at Andy from the background.

Quotes

  • Harvey the Computer: Hi Jim. I am Harvey, a computer. Jim sucks.
  • Harvey the Computer: Pam, you look very hot today.
  • Harvey the Computer: Me so horny. Me love you long tim. [misspelling the word time.]
  • Harvey the Computer: You ruined a funny joke, you. Get out of my offive.
  • Harvey the Computer: Boobs.
  • Dwight: I never let anyone walk behind me. Seven out of ten attacks are from the rear.
  • Ryan: [Shaking the hands of four prospective clients] Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi.
  • Andy: "Also, I shot a deer once."
  • Stanley: [Laughing at Ryan] You sounded like my niece, and she's six months old!
  • Andy: We trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Ever heard of it?... it's in New York.
  • Michael: You know what they say: Fool me once, strike one, but fool me twice...strike three
  • Andy: "Oompa, loompa, doompity, dawesome. Dwight is now gone, which is totally awesome. Why was he gone? He was such a nice guy. No he was not, he was a total douche. Doompity doom. "

Trivia

  • Andy references Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory by name and says"Guess what? I will not fall into a chocolate river." Later, he creates a parody of the Oompa Loompa song from the film.
  • Dwight mentally prepares for the sales call by banging his head to Mötley Crüe's "Kickstart My Heart".
  • From Angela's thinly-veiled tale of the gallantry of "Kurt" to her "friend", it can be inferred that Angela's middle name is Noelle.

References

  • "NBC Primetime Schedule For Sunday, Jan 7 2006 - Saturday, Jan 13 2007" (Press release). NBC. 2006-12-21.
  • "Greg Daniels - TV Episode Filmography By Series". IMDb. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
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