“How is it possible that in five years I’ve had two engagement rings and only one chair?”
Oscar informs Michael that a $4300 budget surplus must be spent by the end of the day. He initially decides on a new copier, but after disappointed looks all around, Michael becomes apprehensive in being the bad guy. Pam pushes for new chairs, but Oscar hates the copy machine. This causes conflict between Jim and Pam as well.
“Manure covers up the smell of the slaughter house.”
Dwight takes Andy and Angela to survey the farm. Dwight and Angela bicker about the wedding arrangements more than she and Andy, but he remains oblivious. As a visual demonstration of how the ceremony would look, Dwight has the barn decorated with lights and chairs and tops it off with a real German Mennonite minister who does not speak a word of English. In a brief run-through of the ceremony, Andy gives Angela away to Dwight as the minister says a blessing. Dwight slips a ring of twine onto Angela’s finger during the mock ceremony.
Oscar and Jim take Michael out to lunch and all return in stitches. What exactly they did remains ambiguous, but Michael has been swayed towards a new copier. Pam retaliates by wearing lipstick and flirting with Michael.
Back at the farm, Angela admits to Dwight that she made a mistake in choosing Andy. Dwight reveals to Angela that Andy, thinking it was a deposit, signed his and Angela’s marriage license as a witness, and that the ceremony was legitimate. Angela is disgusted and leaves. Later on, Angela makes out with Andy in the middle of the office and leaves to settle a legal issue.
After Hank the security guard fails as an effective impartial third party, Michael consults with David Wallace on the surplus issue. Michael discovers that managers receive 15% of savings if they come in under budget. He decides on the bonus instead, because he “loves Burlington Coat Factory.”
When Michael tries to convince the office that they don’t need new chairs or a new copier, Oscar tells the office about the bonus. Michael leaves everyone in his office to debate amongst themselves, assuming that they will not come to a decision and he will be left to take the bonus anyway. Pam and Oscar amicably settle on new chairs much to Michael’s disappointment.
In a closing talking head, Michael is sitting in a new fur coat, lamenting over the fact that he paid for the coat before he knew he wasn’t receiving the $645 bonus. His new fur coat was also ruined by fake blood that was spilled on him as he left Burlington.
“Surplus” continues a streak of hilarious episodes for The Office. This is the first episode in a very long time that does not try to draw sympathy to any of the leads. Dwight tricks Angela into marrying him, Michael tries to con the office out of spending the surplus, and even Pam and Jim are turned against one another. Oddly enough, having every character antagonize each other works beautifully.
Mike Trevino is a rabid fan of House and The Office and blogs out of San Antonio, TX.
