“St. Patrick’s Day” ~ Donna’s Recap

Top o’ the Mornin’ to ya, LITO readers! Sure and begorra, it’s St. Patrick’s Day in Scranton. Michael comes into the office and gleefully grabs some green M&M’s from Erin’s festive reception desk. He exclaims, “Green M&M’s?! Nature’s viagra!” Everyone seems to be a good mood. The camera pans around the office to show that mostly all (except Angela) are smiling and a wearin’ o’ the green. Kelly and Ryan walk by, they’re arguing about going to a St. Patrick’s day party after work. Meredith, looking so pretty in her green dress, interupts them and tells them to stop fighting. She says, “Don’t fight today. There is just one perfect day a year. There’s no hassles, no problems, no kids.” Ryan questions her, “Why no kids?” Kelly chimes in, “Yeah, where are your kids?!” Meredith gets upset, “Nope! Nuh-uh! Not TODAY!” and she stalks away. I guess in the world of an alcoholic (Meredith), there is no greater day than St. Patrick’s Day, where drunken debauchery is not only accepted but is encouraged? The only question is…what did she do with her kids?!

Michael explains this St. Patrick’s Day fevor in a talking head. “Here in Scranton, St. Patrick’s Day is a huge, big deal. It’s the closest the Irish will ever get to Christmas.” Huh? Well, there’s some typical Michael Scott logic for ya! Still you get his meaning. St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal where he comes from.

Camera pans to the door and in comes our favorite new dad, Jim Halpert. His co-workers greet him warmly. Then Jim sees his desk. Or actually, Dwights “Mega-Desk”. In Jim’s paternity leave absence, Dwight has taken over Jim’s desk and added it to his own, “for surveillance, gaming and business”. Jim takes all of two seconds to pull the desks apart.

Dwight is not happy! He acknowledges that he shouldn’t have gotten hooked on Mega-Desk, but now that he has, he’s unrepentant. He explains, “All I care about is Mega-Desk”.

Shortly after Jim enters, Jo comes in (with Gabe and her two giant dogs in tow). She explains that today is her last day at the Scranton branch of her company Sabre. She tells us in a talking-head that she’s really going to miss Scranton. Why? Because her dogs like peeing in the snow. Hmmm? Sounds like she’ll be just devastated to leave.

Michael follows Jo into her office to greet her. He has a going away present for her, some coal from the local mines. Jo thanks him for this local gift and mentions that they don’t have anything like that in Tallahassee. Michael shows interest in seeing her home state and Jo off-handedly throws out an invitation if “you’re ever in my neck of the woods”. Michael’s eyes light up (uh-oh!) He feels he’s well liked by Jo and that insures his place in the company.

Andy’s up at Erin’s desk in a… kilt? Erin compliments him on his St. Patrick’s Day outfit, and he explains that the kilt is actually “my sister’s old field hockey skirt”. Oh Andy! It seems their awkward mating dance continues. And even though it’s awkward, I think it’s cute.

In a talking-head, Andy explains that tonight is his very first date with Erin. He’s very excited and nervous because it’s so important. Why? He tells us, “because according to “How I Met Your Mother”, that’s the date your kids will beg you to tell the story about”. Typical Andy! All hyped-up about marriage & kids when he hasn’t even gone out on a date with Erin yet. So cute…and a bit creepy!

Jim emerges from the break room, only to find Mega-Desk is back. Unfazed, Jim walks right over and rips his desk away again. Dwight is mad! He explains in a talking head. “They say that no man is an island. False! I’m an island. I’m a volcanic island and I’m about to erupt with a plan to get back Mega-Desk!” Oh Dwight! So silly…and a bit scary! Love that he said “false” again in this episode. Keeps the continuity up with his character.

Jim is on the phone with Pam. On his computer screen is a picture of his newborn daughter dressed in all green for the holiday. We hear Pam’s end of the conversation as the two new parents gush over every little facial expression and sound she’s making. Jim says, “I can’t believe I’m missing this”. Poor Jim’s missing his baby now that he’s back to work. A very natural thing to feel. Dwight’s listening to this whole exchange between Pam and Jim. He decides to use Jim’s feelings about leaving his baby to his advantage to reclaim his beloved Mega-Desk.

Cut to Erin at reception. She’s sniffling and sneezing. Is she sick? Not according to Erin, who doesn’t want to miss her date with Andy. Angela hears her sneeze and sneers at her for being sick at work. We see her a don a monogrammed face mask to deter Erin’s unsightly germs.

In the next scene, boss Jo has gotten the staff’s attention for her impromptu “town hall meeting”. Since it’s her last day in Scranton, she wants to see if the staff has anything to say about how the business is being run, see if they have any suggestions. Darryl comes up with a great idea on how to improve Sabre’s shipping methods to save time and money. Jo is impressed, and gives him an office upstairs.

During this town hall meeting, Michael is right behind Jo’s….well, behind. He’s sucking-up and yessing everything she says and does. Jo tolerates him, but barely. It seems Michael’s stretching her southern hospitality to the max. During his suck-up speech, Michael reveals that he’s going to miss her so much that he’s already booked multiple plane tickets to come visit her. And, oh yeah, he’s coming down July 4th weekend! Talk about presumptious and craaazzzy! Jo is shocked. She can’t believe he’s actually booked plane tickets based on her off-handed remark that he “come down and visit sometime”. She gently tries to rebuff him, but we all know Michael never gets subtle anything. Finally, Jo has to refuse him in front of the whole office. It’s cringe-worthy and sad. Michael is of course upset. But, even more than being upset, he’s baffled Jo doesn’t “like him” anymore because of what he did. He was so sure that she really liked him up until this point.

Darryl comes upstairs carring a box full of stuff for his new office. Big smile on his face, he’s humming the theme to classic televsion show, “The Jeffersons”. “Well, we’re moving on up. To the East side! To a de-luxe apartment…in the sky, ie, ie!” You go Darryl!

Michael tries to talk to Jo. He comes to her office and asks her to lunch, eager to mend fences. She gently refuses him. So, Michael persists, telling her, “I’m right next door just knock!” Jo is unamused. She shoots him a cold look and says, “how many knocks will it take to get you to do some work?” Michael smiles awkwardly and bolts out of her office.

Jim’s on a sales call and Dwight decides to put his plan in action. He plays the iconic daddy & child song, Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s in the cradle”. He’s trying to get inside Jim’s guilt-ridden head. Dwight keeps it up until Jim unplugs his music. Then, Andy (the office song bird) chimes in and it’s clear that Jim has to end the call.

Next scene is Jim on the cell phone privately with Pam telling her bad he feels that he’s back to work and missing his baby. Jim tells us in a talking-head, “No, I’m not surprised that Dwight’s using my baby to try to steal my desk. I am surprised that it’s working”. Seem’s Dwight has stumbled upon Jim’s achilles heel.

Erin heads into Jo’s office to deliver a fax. She’s sniffling and sneezing the whole way. Jo immediately sends her home. She doesn’t want her spreading her germs around the office and getting everyone sick. Especially not her two dogs, who are scheduled to shoot a commercial with Ron Howard next week (?!).

Andy watches his lady love leave. He’s upset, but understands that she’s sick and that they should reschedule their date until next week. He reasons, “She’s gonna still like me in a week, right?” We see panic in his eyes.

Next scene, Andy’s in Jo’s office sniffling and sneezing too. Jo sends him home too. Guess Andy decided that Erin still liking him in a week was too much of a gamble for him!

Michael heads into Darryl’s new office. He wants to know how Darryl got Jo to like him enough to give him a new office. Darryl explains that Jo liked his idea, that’s why he has the new office. Michael doesn’t buy it. He asks him, “Does her family owe your family something in terms of a past injustice?” I guess he figures southern belle Jo’s family may have owned Darryl’s at one point in history??? Oh boy! Ever understanding of Michael’s antics, Darryl just shakes his head at him and asks him to leave his office.

Now, it’s five o’clock. Michael heads into Jo’s office to say goodnight. Jo’s working overtime on her last day. She asks Michael why he and his staff are not? With her typical southern charm she asks him, “if you feel like you’ve done a solid days work, then by all means…leave.” Michael is torn. On one hand, he desperately wants Jo to like him and to please her. On the other hand, it’s St. Patrick’s Day and you know how Scranton feels about St. Patrick’s Day!!! Michael sighs and decides to stay (making the staff stay as well).

Of course, no one is happy about this (except Angela). Michael calls Todd Packer who’s been waiting for him at the bar since 3pm to tell him he won’t be there. Packer tells him (be forewarned, if gross-talk upsets you ~ don’t read the rest of this paragraph!), “Here’s what you do, Michael. Hike up your skirt, pull out your tampon. Borrow some balls, and come meet me!” Michael explains that he can’t.

Fake-sicker Andy shows up at Erin’s house. She’s suprised, and in her jammy-jams. Andy says, “That’s ok, I’m in my worky-works.” So cute…and weird! Erin invites him in. And I’m thinking, “cutey-cute”!

With the office on lockdown, Dwight tells Jim he’s heading out for a “meeting”. “Enjoy your time away from your baby!” he taunts. Dwight strolls into Jo’s office to tell her about this fictional meeting. Before he can, Jo’s phone rings. It’s Jim. He tells her he has a meeting and beats Dwight to the punch! Before hanging up, Jim reiterates that “we never, ever, ever, ever have meetings this late.” Now Dwight can’t claim a meeting of his own and remains stuck at the office. Point Jim!

Seems like Andy’s plan is working. The couple is snuggling on Erin’s couch under a blanket when in walks a guy! No worries, it’s just Erin’s brother Reid. He lives with her. Andy gets up to shake his hand and Reid jumps into his spot next to Erin. Reid explains that the guest should get the good chair and proceeds to hang all over Erin. After a few minutes of the “siblings” acting very coupley, Andy starts to question them. Turns out Reid is Erin’s foster-brother. They’re no blood relation. Andy watches as Reid puts his arm around Erin on the couch. Uh-oh.

At the office, the night is dragging on. In come the cleaning people and the staff is still there! Michael doesn’t know what to do. He corners Jo’s assistant Gabe in the break room to see if he has any idea how long Jo plans to keep the staff at work. Gabe replies he has no idea. He works whenever Jo needs him. He has no schedule at all. Michael is shocked. How can you have a life? Gabe replies he doesn’t and that he’d love a schedule. He says, “If I had a schedule, I could actually date. I wouldn’t have to go to Amsterdam seven times a year. Oh well. I’ll date when I’m dead, right?” Poor sexually frustrated Gabe!

Michael feels pity for Gabe and it spurs him to decide that he’s had enough of this late night. He heads into Jo’s office and tells her that he’s telling his staff to go home. He feels that they’ve done a full days work and they deserve to leave since it’s a holiday. Jo looks him over and says, “Ok”. He also tells her, “Happy St. Patrick’s Day and I just want you to know I cancelled my flights to Tallahassee. I look forward to our working relationship”. As he’s leaving her office, Jo stops him and says, “Me too, Michael.” Good for Michael!!

Erin and Andy’s “date” is coming to a close. Erin walks her beau to the door. Andy is not comfortable at all with how it went. And I mean seriously, can you blame him?! But before he leaves, Erin gives him a kiss on the cheek. Andy is happy again! Maybe there’s hope for the cute couple?

Next scene, we see some of the staff at a local bar living it up for the holiday. Everyone is carefree and happy. Michael is a bit worried. He explains that by asking to leave work, he may have hurt himself professionally with Jo, but he took a stand and he’s proud of himself for it. How grown-up and professional of our favorite bumbling boss! But alas, it’s short-lived, because here comes Packer up behind him to “hump” him. Then two seconds later, here comes Meredith behind Packer to “hump” him! Oh, eww! There’s one nasty “sandwich”!

Closing scene a new day at the office. In walks Dwight to find Jim commandeering “Quad-Desk”. Dwight sneers. It’s three desks so it must be “Tri-Desk”. Jim’s like…whatever loser! He has placed Dwight’s phone and work supplies under the pile of desks. Dwight’s phone rings and under the desk he crawls to answer it. Again, point Jim! Seems fatherhood hasn’t diminished his ability to prank Dwight one bit. So glad to see it!

What did you think of “St. Patrick’s Day”? I liked it. It was cute to see Jim’s return to work (very realistically played). I thought Mega-Desk was brilliant. Andy and Erin’s first date was sweet, but mostly awkward! Kathy Bates as Jo is just wonderful. I’m sorry to see her go. Lots of awkward, fun moments! Do you agree? Sound off in the comments. And as always, thanks for reading! ~Donna