Life In The Office

This episode’s cold-open features a newly installed police radar gun outside the Dunder-Mifflin building complex. It seems drivers were going a little too fast for Angela (surprise, suprise!). So, after many 911 phone calls by Miss Martin, the police finally installed a radar gun. But, as Pam explains in her talking-head, “it’s probably caused more traffic problems”. Why you ask? It seems the staff has found a new way to kill time; racing, on foot, past the radar gun to see how fast they are running. Michael clocks in at 12 miles an hour. He screams, “beat that Carl Lewis!” Then we see Dwight take his turn. He clocks in at 13 miles an hour. Now Michael is peeved! It’s Oscar’s turn next, but Michael jumps in front of him to steal his turn and try to beat Dwight. Just then a car goes by and the radar gun clocks it at 31 miles an hour. Of course, Michael claims this time as his own. And because he’s the boss, and most importantly because he is Michael, game over!

Now to the meat of the episode. After all, it’s not entitled “The Duel” for nothing! As any fan of the show knows, Angela Martin is engaged to co-worker, Andrew Bernard. Throughout her engagement (and before acutally) Angela Martin has been having a not-so-secret affair with co-worker, Dwight Schrute. Dwight and Angela were spotted doin’ it by Phyllis at the end of last season. Then, at the office Christmas party, Phyllis spilled the beans about their affair. Now everyone in the office knows, everyone that is, except poor Andy. This week, that is remedied.

Andy walks into the office and makes an announcement. “This is insanely awkward. Kinda like an elephant in the room”, he starts. The camera pans the staff looking at Andy in stone-silence. The tension is palpable. You can almost read their expressions. It seems they are all thinking the same thing, “does he finally know?!” Alas, it is not to be. Andy finishes his thought and lets us know that he is still clueless to his fiance’s treachery. He says, “No one has RSVP’ed for our wedding yet, and the deadline was yesterday.” Oh, poor, poor Andy!!

Jim explains the whole screwed-up love-triangle situation in his talking-head. “It’s been 17 days, and Andy still doesn’t know. I guess he’ll figure it out when their kids have giant heads and beet stained teeth. But for right now, it’s just awkward.” Love that!!

The staff, minus Andy, discusses the awkward situation in the break-room. Michael wants to know if Dwight and Angela are still having their affair. Dwight flashes the camera a look that says, “um, yes! duh!!” His co-workers are horrified. Then Oscar has a thought, he says, “Did you ever have intercourse in this office?!” Dwight just stares at him and says nothing. Now Oscar is getting upset. In disgust Oscar moans, “Where? Where Dwight?!” Dwight just continues to stare at him, then slowly replies, “It sounds like you already know where”. EWW!! Forget poor Andy, POOR Oscar!! lol I guess Oscar’s desk is doubling as a “love-nest” after hours.

The next scene has Ms. Martin in accounting, doing the usual, yelling at Kevin for something she’s noticed he’s done wrong. Only this time, Kevin doesn’t bow his head in shame or apologize. Oh no! He launches into a very nice little monologue about how “if he had known he was doing something wrong, he would stop doing that.” He then looks to Oscar for a high-five. But, Oscar is reluctant to give him one because he thinks Kevin’s monologue fell a bit flat at the end. Kevin agrees and edits his last statement, saying instead, (LOVE THIS!!!) “Sorry I did such a whorish job filling out this form”. How awesome is that?! Too funny.

Next up, Dwight has a funny talking-head that features “Schrute Rules”. Rule #17 is never turn your back on a male you’ve wronged or a the dominant turkey during mating season (0r something like that!). Seems the Schrutes have a list of 40 rules that all their males must memorize before age 5. There is even a little ditty to accompany this, and it goes something like this….”Learn your rules, learn your rules, or if you don’t you will be eaten in your sleep! Growl!!” Gotta love those Scrutes!

Next scene, Michael’s office. Jim, Dwight and Michael are in there trying to quietly discuss what to do about the Andy-situation. Michael is dying to spill the beans, but he doesn’t want to deal with the fall-out once he does. Lucky for him, David Wallace has called him to corporate and he is leaving today. So, Michael figures now is the time to let Andy know (since he is leaving to go to NYC!). Jim and Dwight disagree with him for differing reasons. Dwight wants to give Angela the time she tells him she needs to break the news to Andy herself. Jim feels that this is a personal matter, that should not be handled at work, and should be handled by Angela. Michael just wants it done. He shakes his head. He says to Dwight, “I don’t understand all this. Is she crazy in bed?” Jim starts to find fault with that statement, but Dwight interupts him with an emphatic, “Yes!”. Now it’s Jim’s turn to be aghast, he stops in mid-sentence and turns to Dwight saying, “What?! No!”  Poor Jim! But can you blame him? I mean seriously, how crazy can she be, right? ha ha

Michael is done with all this. He tells them, “this has to get out so we can all deal with it”. Jim says, “but you’re leaving.” Michael starts to argue back his point, but then just gives up and leaves the office, telling Andy to follow him to his car because he has to tell him something. Andy of course does. The rest of the staff watch them from the window that overlooks the parking lot.

As Andy and Michael walk to his car, Michael spouts a bunch of nonsense sentences that Andy tries to follow. Of course, it’s all nonsense because Michael is just trying to stall until the last possible minute. Andy finally tells him, “I don’t understand anything you’re saying”. Finally they’re at Michael’s car. Once safely inside, Michael rolls down his window, puts the car in reverse, and as it’s rolling out of the parking spot, breaks the news to poor Andy. He tells him, “Dwight and Angela are having an affair. It’s been going on for sometime.” Then Michael drives off, leaving Andy all-alone, and heartbroken in the parking lot.

Andy calmly walks back into the office, straight to Angela’s desk. He ask her to go somewhere private where they can talk. Once they’re alone in the conference room, he asks his bride-to-be, “Is it true?” Does Ms. Martin lose her cool, or start to cry? Heck no!! She says, “What have you heard?” What have you heard?!!! Wow! She is one cool cucumber!

The conversation continues. Andy asks again. “Are you sleeping with Dwight?” Angela calmly replies, “That doesn’t sound like me.” Again… Wow!!

Andy finally has enough of this double-talk and asks her point-blank, “Are you having an affair with Dwight?” Realizing her game is finally over, she sheepishly replies, “A little bit”.

Andy is still calm. He asks, “Who else knows?” Angela replies, “Um…Michael, and let me think…” Then her eyes gaze out the conference room clear window into the office where the entire staff is staring in at them. Andy realizes at that moment that everyone knows! He moans, “Oh god. Come on!” ha ha

But despite all that, Angela still manages to convince Andy that the wedding should go on. She tells him that their love can endure this indiscretion of hers. Andy wants to know, was it a “standard” affair? Angela replies, “nothing fancy”. Andy asks her, “like, missionary?” Angela frostily replies, “I said nothing fancy!”   Gotta love that Angela! Crazy in bed my butt!!

Honestly, I never thought Angela was this devious. I knew she had issues (ie ~ having an affair while engaged). But still, I thought she was just in-love with Dwight and once found-out would be tearful and contrite. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Angela is one cold-hearted witch (with a “b”!)

Next scene has Michael in CEO David Wallaces office. Michael is expecting a scolding, because that’s what he is usually called to corporate for. However this time is different. Seems the Scranton branch is the only branch showing a gain in these difficult economic times. So, it’s Mr. Wallace’s duty to figure out what Michael is doing right with the Scranton branch.

Michael, of course, is completely surprised by this turn of events. He thought he was there to get scolded. When David Wallace asks him how he accomplished what he did, Michael has no idea. Instead of saying that, he just rambles on and on saying absolutely nothing. You know when you start a conversation and you sort of “lose your place” mentally? So, to save-face, you start rambling-on about something completely general and hope you will find your way out of the conversation soon? Well, that’s what Michael did except there was no “soon” about it! He goes on and on and on, and poor David Wallace has to sit there and listen because he is in charge of gleaming the answer from Michael on how his branch has done so well. So, it’s like a tortuous, never-ending conversation, let by Michael Scott. It’s like a living-nightmare! ha ha

Back at the office, Andy emerges from the conference room. He addresses his coworkers saying, “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for lying to my face and not telling me what was going on behind my back this entire time”. Everyone looks chagrined. Everyone that is except Creed who stands-up, smiles and tells Andy, “You’re welcome!” Love Creed.

Andy then approaches Dwight. He tells him, “it’s over”. Dwight is relieved. He thinks that Andy/Angela are over. Boy, is he wrong! Andy gets in Dwight’s face. “She doesn’t love you. She is marrying me! Angela Bernard will be her name, and you will have to call her that!” Dwight refuses. They decide the only way to settle this is to fight. A duel! Winner gets Angela.

Next scene is Meredith in a talking-head. She tells us, “I’ve had two men fight over me before. Usually it’s over who gets to hold the camcorder.” lol You’d think with all her talk about sex-on-film that Meredith wouldn’t need to work an office job anymore. She must not be cashing in on her own er….”movies”….;)

The duel is scheduled for 4pm, when both Dwight and Andy are on their breaks (ha ha). Pam turns to Angela and tells her, “Angela, you have to stop this!” Angela ignores her and says quietly, “I will respect the results of the duel.” Pam just shakes her head, “Of course you will”, she replies dead-pan. In the background, Jim is walking around with a cardboard box looking under things for weapons that Dwight has hidden. The box is almost full already. Meredith tells him, “there is a star-looking-thingy under the table in the breakroom”. Unconcerned, Jim thanks her. Just business as usual at the office! ha ha

Back in NYC, David is desperately trying to end his day-with-Michael. He is giving him all the clues to leave. But of course, Michael is not getting those social clues! Finally, Michael tells David, “I have to say, I am so impressed with the potential you see in me”. Well, doesn’t that just sum it up?! But he doesn’t leave of course, he sits down to finish his lunch in David’s office. Poor David!

Back in Scranton, Dwight is in the parking lot brandishing some sort of weapon (a numchuck? a leather strap? I’m not sure on this one), yelling for Andy to show himself. The rest of the staff is watching out the window. It looks like Andy isn’t going to show up.

Then, Dwight sees a note taped to the bushes that surround the perimeter of the parking lot. It’s from Andy! While Dwight reads the note out loud (which starts off, “hi, how are you? I am fine.” lol) Andy slowly creeps up in his Prius, and pins Dwight to the bushes/perimeter fencing. Not painfully mind you. But Dwight’s leg is starting to fall asleep! ha ha! Touche Dwight!!!

From the second-floor window, Angela says, “I can’t believe they’re going to fight over me”. Kelly, who is standing next to her, replies, “I guess people have fewer choices as they get older.” Ouch! Good one Kelly! Angela just glares at her. Kelly doesn’t seem to notice. Or, at least doesn’t care.

Jim comes down to intervene because with Michael gone, he is the lucky guy in charge of this mess. Andy and Dwight start yelling and arguing with each other. There is alot of the word “idiot” thrown around (lol). Finally, Andy breaks down and anguishly says, “How could she have been sleeping with you this whole time and only have slept with me twice?” Dwight is floored. He says, “What? She’s sleeping with you?” Andy looks up at him in his misery and replies, “I am her fiance”. Now it’s Dwight’s turn to look aghast. He says, “I thought she was only sleeping with me”. Game over Angela!!

Duel over. The two broken-hearted guys walk back to their desks in the office. Ms. Martin stands by her desk silently waiting to see what will happen next. Andy picks up the phone and calls the bakery to cancel the wedding cake order. Angela looks upset, then turns to see what Dwight is doing. Dwight grabs his beloved bobble-head and throws it in the trash. Neither man even looks at her. Good for them! And so kiddies, with all her lies and treachery, Angela winds up alone. Good vanquishes evil, and all’s well that ends well!

The End!

So, what did you think about “The Duel”? I liked it alot. There were a ton of funny moments, and it brought closure to the long-running triangle of Andy/Angela/Dwight. Of course, I’m sure this is not the complete end to this story. Sound off on your opinion and as always, thanks for reading! ~Donna