The Office - "Business Trip" (Episode 507)

Le Wingman! (Pic courtesy of NBC)

Michael lectures the gang on international ettiquite, as only Michael can ("Did you know that in Morocco it is common to exchange a small gift when meeting somebody for the first time? In Japan you must always commit suicide to avoid embarassment. In Italy, you must always wash your hands after going to the bathroom. This is considered to be polite.") The reason for the gathering is that Michael is jetting off on an international business trip for the company. His exotic destination? Canada. Michael is looking forward to delivering a sales presentation in the Great White North, because he's "always been intrigued by all things international...the women, the pancakes, the man of mystery." Continuing his mis-information to the staff, Michael asks Meredith to pretend she's from Abu Dhabi. She says "hello" and Michael tells her "I am ashamed at your naked face" and covers her up with his jacket. he then tells her "you are now sexy in your culture."

Everyone is coming up to Jim, counting down the last few days before Pam returns (Creed's show of support is extra, super creepy. I loved it.) Jim notes that everyone in the office was so excited for him..."and involved, intrusive and weird." Even Stanley, who shoots a randy chuckle Jim's way. (Hey NBC, more Stanley, please!) David Wallace from corporate calls Michael to make sure he's all set for the trip. Michael says he's going to spend his per diem on a sweater. David told him that money was for food, but Michael said he'd use "different money" for that. David said he was happy to send Michael on the trip since he's been so down lately (since Holly was transferred) and besides, no one else in the company really wanted to go to Winnipeg in mid-November. Michael's excited t be traveling in business class which is "better than a five-star hotel" because "you get a big, cushy seat and...you sit in a row of people and...to eat whatever the mind can imagine." He fancies a filet with mushroom sauce. Obviously Michael hasn't flown anywhere in a loooong time. David tells Michael to visit the hotel's concierge to find some nightlife in Winnipeg. Michael lugs three suitcases alongon the trip. Two are empty for souvenirs. Dwight tries to assist Michael with his money belt, which he insists should be worn high on the chest, like a bra. Andy is coming along as the translator - although his French is pretty weak. Angela tells him to "be good" and he says he'll try - he'll just try to "get other dudes laid." Oscar ("the numbers guy") is hardly enthused to be going on this trip (who could blame him?) They pile into their Town Car (which Meredith is quick to point out is actually a van) and head off to the airport.

Michael is actually the only one sitting in business class. He's thrilled to have his own personal valet/flight attendant bringing him mimosas and hot towels. Oscar made egg salad sandwiches for the trip and offered Michael one. Michael asked him if he could have brought anything stinkier to eat. ("Do you have a bag of baby poop in there too?") Michael asks the flight attendant for a menu and she informs him that there are no meals on flights shorter than two hours. No matter, Michael will just take a nap. He dons his complimetary "blindfold" and as he turns back to show off to Oscar and Andy, he gets smacked by the beverage cart. Since Pam's coming back, Ryan has to relocate - and he does right near Kelly. He says there's going to be a lot of tension, but Kelly doesn't seem to care, as she's dating Darryl. Ryan starts doing push-ups in an attempt to impress her. She says it's "not gonna happen" between she and Ryan because he has hurt her "too much and too often" and "that door is closed." They're making out soon after. Michael and the boys arrive at the hotel and Michael makes a beeline for the concierge (Deputy Clementine Johnson from "Reno 911!") He's impressed that she can find the guys a sushi restaurant on the fly and give them concise directions. Andy asks where one could find her after work, and she drops the name of a local pub, The Huntsman. Michael doesn't get out much, does he? He says that the concierge is the "Winnipeg equivalent of a geisha...a woman trained in the fine arts of fanciness and pleasure. And, when you meet one, it's intoxicating." Pam calls Jim, upset. She's failing her computer classes. She has to stay and retake the class. 12 more weeks. Uh-oh. Jim is upset but says it's all about her following her dream. He wants her to come back "the right way." Pam gets teary and hangs up with him. She's upset too.  

Back in Canada, Michael and the boys find the hotel concierge (Marie) in the pub. Michael is charming yet awkward and he can't help but preface everything with "How you say" because she's "foreign." He's trying, but you can tell he's totally not over Holly. Andy and Oscar are sitting together and Andy scopes out two men that he thinks are "as good as naked" for Oscar. Oscar asks him how he could possibly know that they are gay and Andy counters that they're obvious - "Dainty Dale and Foppy McGee." Andy orders two Long Island Iced Teas ("a bad decision in a glass") to take over to the mens' table, much to Oscar's dismay. Andy tells him, "You will thank me when they spank thee." Andy's wingman skills (and his gaydar) are worse then his French. Andy and Oscar imbibe the drinks. Michael grills concierge Marie on all things Winnipeg. A tipsy Oscar asks Andy how anyone could stand Angela and what he saw in her. Andy said he's been able to see through her hard exterior and find a "little jelly in the middle." He added that she was teaching him to be a better person...and she had soft skin...and can't wait to have sex with her. (All the while, we're watching Michael make out with concierge Marie.) Oscar can't believe they haven't consumated their relationship and tells Andy she should call her right then and ask what's wrong with her. Andy drunk dials Angela and hears someone in the background (gee, I wonder who that could be?) Michael invited concierge Marie out to breakfast after a night of...something...and she passes, saying she's tired. Michael makes an awkward "walk of shame down the hallway. I wonder what happened?

Jim discovers that everyone already knows about Pam failing her class. Dwight wasn't surprised, because he thought she wasn't that good of an artist, criticizing the picture she painted of the office. Andy and Oscar meet up in the lobby the next morning. They both seemed to have had a fun time and Andy says "It's true what they say, Long Island Iced Teas are way stronger in Canada." Oscar thanked Andy for attempting to hook him up and Andy said that's what he does - he gives the "Whole Nine 'Nards." Oscar said he couldn't believe they drunk-dialed Angela the night before. Andy thought he dreamt the whole thing. Ryan wanted Kelly to dump Darryl for him and even typed out a text message for her to send him. She sent it and got an almost instant reply. Darryl was "cool" with it. Ryan was expecting more of a reaction and visibly cooled about Kelly (just like back in the day.) Darryl positively bounced out to his car. Michael made a subdued and emotional sales pitch to the client. At the airport, Andy told Oscar that Angela was pissed about the late night phone call and sent him back to first base, which was kissing her forehead.  Andy told Oscar he was his "Wingman for Life" and admitted that Oscar was "delightful." Michael called David Wallace and told him he made the sale but said the trip sucked. He finally confronted David about sending Holly away and said it was a "sucky thing to do" and hung up on him. Michael said he stuck around Dunder Miflin not for the paycheck (because he said "I could be making more money as a doctor or a professional athlete.") but it's because they respect him (because he can tell his boss off and hang up on him without getting fired.) Apparently Kevin is the only guy in the office who didn't know about Pam, congratulating Jim on making it to "day one." Jim went out to his car and found Pam, who said she decided to come back "the wrong way." She said it wasn't because she missed him (yeah, right) but that she just didn't like graphic design and she missed Scranton. Dwight came up to her and asked her to make some copies. She said she wasn't going in the office and Dwight told her that she could do them first thing in the morning. Jim told her "Welcome back." I'm so happy they're back together! Ryan's not quite as happy that he and Kelly are back together. I heard BJ Novak was leaving the show soon, so this relationship probably won't last much longer.