Branch Closing

Office episode
name = Branch Closing


ep_num = 35
prod_code = 03007
date = November 9, 2006
writer = Michael Schur
director = Tucker Gates
season = 3

"Branch Closing" is the seventh episode of the third season of "The Office" (U.S. version). It was first aired on November 9, 2006. It was written by Michael Schur and directed by Tucker Gates. It is the first episode to have a "Producer's Cut" on NBC.com, with deleted scenes edited into the full episode and broadcast on the website. [ [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20061106nbc01 NBC'S 'THE OFFICE' WEB EVENT STREAMS ONLY ON NBC.COM] ] This uncut episode is the version included on the Season 3 DVD set.

ynopsis

Jan informs Michael that the Scranton branch will close, with a few people transferred to Stamford and the rest laid off. Michael takes the news badly, and soon spills the beans to the rest of the office prematurely. Michael and Dwight decide to confront the CFO at his home, while Ryan takes this opportunity to break up with Kelly.

Stamford branch manager Josh reveals that he has leveraged the situation to obtain a better position at Staples, throwing the restructuring into disarray. The new plan is to close Stamford instead, and Jan offers Jim the number two position in Scranton, but he is reluctant to accept it.

The Scranton branch is relieved when they hear they are saved, and Kelly is thrilled that she and Ryan don't have to break up after all. When Michael and Dwight get the news, they celebrate their success, unsure exactly how they accomplished it.

After agonizing over the decision, Jim accepts the position and suggests to Karen that she join him in Scranton. In a talking head interview, Karen admits that even though she does not think he is "into her", she is "kind of into him".

Producer's cut

The Producer's Cut contains two new story lines and other minor additions and changes.

Meredith remembers an agreement to have sex with a coworker on the final day of employment, but she can't remember who it is. The former coworker calls, and Meredith follows through with agreement, even after learning the branch is not closing.

Creed sells electronics and furniture from the office, making $1,200 from several deals throughout the day.

Single scenes: Andy has a plan in case he gets laid off; Ryan admits that Kelly has a strange power over him.

Changes: Pam and Jim's talking head interviews about the closure are different.

Notes

:"For a list of songs featured in this episode, see [http://theoffice.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_songs_that_appear_in_episodes#Branch_Closing List of songs featured on The Office] ."
* There is only one Sal's Pizza in Scranton, and its menu is posted in the office kitchen, which would indicate the office is within the delivery zone of 505 Linden St.

* Dwight ineptly tried to leverage a position in "Halloween". This episode has Josh Porter actually succeeding.
* Michael mentions the film "Kingpin" when he and Dwight first approach the front door of the CFO's house. In the movie, an older Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) lives in a run-down Scranton apartment. The movie portrays Scranton poorly, although Michael apparently enjoys it.
* When Kevin tells Pam that they are going to Poor Richard's, he mentions that Creed will be buying shots. This is most likely because Creed had just made $1,200 selling electronics from the office, however, the original cut of the episode does not show that plot line and causes the statement to be slightly out of context.
* Shortly before the episode aired, Jenna Fischer described it as "the best one we've ever done. I'm not kidding." [Fischer, Jenna. November 6, 2006. blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=27753303&blogID=189579516&Mytoken=EDB99293-8AE9-4B46-9120C91AF6EB821F54478282 New York Here I Come!, MySpace.com]
*Angela doesn't want to go "all the way to Dunmore" to have lunch at Cugino's. The real Cugino's in Dunmore is only five minutes from downtown Scranton.
*Jan says that Michael is a "severance package" person. However, in "The Convention", Josh mentions in passing that, given Michael's abilities as a salesman, he would be sure to find Michael a position at Stamford.
*During the practice conversation with Dwight, Michael says that if Dunder-Mifflin Scranton closes, 15 people will lose their jobs. Darryl says that the warehouse crew will work for Bob Vance, and Jim is at Stamford, so they are not included in that count. This leaves Michael, Dwight, Pam, Ryan, Oscar, Angela, Kevin, Meredith, Creed, Phyllis, Stanley, Toby, and Kelly, which is only 13. It is possible that Marjorie (an employee mentioned in "The Fire"), Todd Packer, or other rarely-seen employees make up the last 2.
***SPOILER ALERT**In the final scene of the episode, Toby mentions that he was thinking of moving to Costa Rica if the Scranton branch was closed. Toby follows up on this at the end of season 4, when he quits his job to move there.

References

External links

* [http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/episodes/3007_1.shtml#main Branch Closing] at NBC.com