The Office (USA)/The Client

The Client
Season 2, Episode 7
Airdate	November 8, 2005
Production Number	2005
Written by	Paul Lieberstein
Directed by	Greg Daniels
Stream
← 2x06 The Fight	2x08 → Performance Review
The Office — Season Two

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The Client is the seventh episode of the second season of The Office, and the thirteenth episode overall.

Starring: Steve Carell (Michael Scott), Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute), John Krasinski (Jim Halpert), Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly), B.J. Novak (Ryan Howard)

Guest Starring: Tim Meadows (Christian), Melora Hardin (Jan), David Denman (Roy), Leslie David Baker (Stanley Hudson), Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone), Kate Flannery (Meredith Palmer), Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor), Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin), Paul Lieberstein (Toby Flenderson) (credit only), Oscar Nunez (Oscar Martinez), Phyllis Smith (Phyllis Lapin)

Co-Starring: Allyson Everitt (Chili's Hostess)

Uncredited: Creed Bratton (Creed Bratton)

Plot Overview

Michael and Jan prepare to secure a new county client who could help solve the financial crisis Dunder-Mifflin is under. Despite Jan's attempts to maintain control, Michael takes over by changing the meeting place to Chili's and then dominates the conversation. Despite her worries, and a steadily increasing drinking tab for her, Michael and the client connect and he lands the big deal.

Back at the office, Michael calls Pam to search his desk for a solid joke to tell and Pam finds a screenplay he had written. Detailing the adventures of FBI agent Michael Scarn and his bumbling sidekick Samuel L. Chang, the whole office take part in an open reading of it. Cast as the lead, Dwight makes the disturbing realization that the clueless Samuel L. Chang was originally named Dwight. Angry, he calls an end to the reenactment and instead shows off his large stash of fireworks in the field near the building. Watching from the rooftop, Jim and Pam share an impromptu dinner and music from his iPod.

Overwhelmed by his success, and more likely her high alcohol content, Jan and Michael kiss and then leave the Chili's together. Lacking a ride home, Dwight is left to sleep overnight and sees Jan returning early to the office by taxi to get her car. Although it comes out that nothing very serious happened, Jan calls up and says it's a mistake.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Jim and Pam have their sort-of-first date: grilled-cheese sandwiches by candlelight on the Dunder-Mifflin roof.
• A drunken Jan takes Michael back to her hotel room. Michael later confesses that there was talking, kissing and holding, but no sex.

Characters

• Semi-jokingly, Jim remarks that last night constituted a first date with Pam. He goes a bit to far and ends up mentioning that her fiancé had left her at a sports game for their first date and she walks away mad.

Quotes

• Jan: So, when we get to the Radisson I would like to...

Michael: Oh, I changed it to Chili's.

Jan: Excuse me?

Michael: The Radisson just gives off this vibe. It's like 'oh, I'm doing business at the Radisson'. It's kind of snooty.

Jan: You had no right to do that, Michael.

Michael: It's like this - 'Chili's is the new golf course. It's where business happens.' - Small Businessman Magazine

Jan: It said that?

Michael: It will. I sent it in. Letter to the Editor.

Jan: Alright, but you will let me run this meeting.

Michael: Um hm, um hm. (under his breath) Power trip.

Jan: What?

• Michael: Hello, Christian?

Christian: Yes.

Michael: Ah, that was you. Michael Scott. This is Jan Levinson-Gould.

Jan: Just Jan Levinson.

Michael: No Gould?

Jan: No. Thank you very much for meeting with us. Have you been waiting long?

Christian: No, not long.

Michael: Ah, Jan. What happened? Is Gould dead?

• Michael: The first guy says, "well, I'm an astronaut, so I drive a Saturn." And the second guy says, "well, I am a pimp, so I drive a cheap Escort." And the third guy says, "I got you both beat -- I'm a proctologist, so I drive a brown Probe."

Christian: Oh no! Oh my God, that's funny! I almost had Awesome Blossom coming out of my nose!

Jan: (To a server) Excuse me, could I have a vodka tonic, please?

• (The employees are having a group reading of Michael's screenplay, "Threat Level: Midnight".)

Jim: (Narrating) Inside the F.B.I., Agent Michael Scarn sits with his feet up on his desk. Catherine Zeta Jones enters.

Phyllis: Sir, you have some messages.

Dwight: Not now!

Phyllis: They're important.

Dwight: Okay. What are they?

Phyllis: First message is: I love you. That's from me.

Dwight: Not in a thousand years, Catherine. We work together. And get off my desk!

• Michael: Hello Dwight.

Dwight: Did you do her?

• Michael: A gentleman does not kiss and tell... and neither do I!