Cocktails (The Office)

Template:Office episode "Cocktails" is the seventeenth episode of the third season of the US version of The Office. It aired on February 22, 2007. It is written by Paul Lieberstein and directed by Alias and Lost creator J. J. Abrams.

Synopsis

Dwight tightly straps Michael into a straightjacket but notes the loose sleeves. Dwight drapes a heavy chain wrapped around Michael, who explains in an off-kilter, garbled voice during an interview that he's attended a magic camp, which many people believe is only for kids, and indeed most of his fellow campers were children. After suiting up, Michael announces his planned illusion, and Jim and Pam clarify Michael is to receive no help in his escape, no matter what he says. After brief struggling theatrics, a small key emerges from his mouth and falls to the ground, where Jim covers it with his foot. The dumbfounded regional manager retreats to his office and shuts the blinds with his feet as he writhes on the carpet.

Dunder Mifflin's chief financial officer, David Wallace, is hosting a cocktail party at his home in Mount Vernon for managers. Jan and Michael decide to go to the party as a couple (their "coming-out party" in Michael's terms) after informing human resources of their relationship. As No. 2 man in Scranton, Jim also must attend, though he finds the obligatory event with people he's never met a pointless exercise. He also dislikes discussing paper in his free time (or his work time, for that matter). Michael invites and carpools with Dwight and arrive so early that the hostess answers the door in her bathrobe. Michael presents his store-bought potato salad but advises against eating it because it has been in his car all day.

Roy doesn't want to go to an early happy hour at Poor Richard's Pub with the sales, accounting and human resources folks, because his brother took a bath on the sale of the jet skis and the two of them plan "to get hammered." Determined to be more honest and assertive with people in her life, Pam insists Roy "do boyfriend things".

At the party, Dwight asks David Wallace a series of tactless questions regarding his house. Michael's behavior is not much better, as his public displays of affection greatly embarrass Jan. Frustrated with Michael's behavior, Jan turns the tables and attempts to seduce him in the first floor bathroom. When she gets Michael to describe her behavior as inappropriate, she storms out of the bathroom. As they leave the party later on, the two have an awkward argument regarding their future together, to which Dwight ends up opining on their situation since he's in Michael's car.

Meanwhile, the rest of the office is enjoying themselves at Poor Richard's (with the exception of Toby, however, who devotes all his time to trying to win Pam a stuffed duck, only for her to offer it to his daughter right after he finally got it). Creed also greets some under-age patrons of the bar that he created fake ID's for on a laminating machine he stole from the Sheriff's office. Back at the party, Karen points out to Jim a man named Drake, admitting to him that they had dated when he was temporarily separated from his wife. As the night drags on, Karen points out more and more former flames until Jim is forced to ask what's the deal. She then reveals to him that she had been playing a joke on him the whole time, to which he reacts with a faint amusement. Towards the end of the cocktail party, the CFO asks Jim to shoot hoops in the backyard. During this time, he asks Jim what is up between Jan and Michael, and Jim can only respond with: "I don't know...where to begin."

Back at Poor Richard's, Pam tells Roy she wants to do what it takes to make sure their relationship will work, a sentiment with which Roy agrees. Pam claims that she wants no secrets between them, and proceeds to explain the events that transpired between her and Jim on Casino Night. Roy greets this revelation with violent rage, hurling his beer bottles at a mirror. Pam calls their relationship off on the spot, and leaves him as he (and his brother) destroy the entire bar. After Roy's brother pays off the bar for damages and bribes them not to call the police, Roy realizes that all of their Jet-ski money is gone. At a total loss, his only consolation is the fact that "I am gonna kill Jim Halpert."

Deleted Scenes

• Oscar and Angela's appearance at Poor Richards surprises Kevin, partially because Angela is a teetotaler. Later, Oscar's comment on the fatty chicken wings leads to Angela agreeing that "this place is disgusting".
• The bartender greets "Mer" and names all the other people from the office, presumably based on Meredith's stories.
• While Toby attempts to win the stuffed duck, Stanley's daughter Melissa ("Take Your Daughter to Work Day") comes into the pub and strikes up a conversation with Ryan, who doesn't recognize her. Stanley reacts violently to Ryan and this leads to a confrontation in the women's restroom.

Trivia

For a list of songs featured in this episode, see List of songs featured on The Office (US TV series).

• Pam references the episode "Casino Night" in this episode.
• The first reference to Andy Bernard being in anger management training is made by Karen, though Andy is not specifically named.
• Michael toasts Lee Iacocca and "his failed experiment" the De Lorean, though Iacocca and the vehicle are unrelated. The De Lorean was created by John De Lorean.
• This is the first episode to feature Poor Richards Pub, an actual pub in Scranton. The pub had previously been mentioned numerous times on the show throughout all three seasons as a favorite hangout of the office.
• Jim's excitement towards playing basketball was previously seen in the appropriately titled episode "Basketball".
• The drinking game played at the bar is called "Up Jenkins!"

External links

• "Cocktails" at NBC.com
• Memorable Quotes from "Cocktails" at QuotesfromTheOffice.com