“There’s no better medicine than birthday lunch.”
Jim and Pam go on an uncomfortable double date with Michael and Helena while Dwight distributes fresh bagels to the office, hoping to be repaid for his bagel-favor later on.
“I used to love coming here…maybe Michael will start dating that too.”
Birthday lunch starts well enough, with the table decorated in advance with balloons. All is well until Helena reveals that she is 58 years old today.
Pam intensifies Michael’s discomfort by asking if Helene would like to be called grandma by her grandchildren. Deeply bothered by Helena’s age, Michael spends the rest of lunch trying to convince himself that Helena is not that old by suggesting various extreme sports that she may be interested in…eventually expressing outright disinterest in Helene.
Back at the office, Andy returns the bagel favor by polishing Dwight’s briefcase. This is just the beginning of the vicious cycle of Andy’s politeness which proves to be an obstacle to Dwight’s plot to have everyone owe the favor of overthrowing Jim as co-manager.
Andy later buys lunch for the entire office, while Dwight attempts to repay this favor by combining the taco ingredients. He later locks Andy out of the conference room to prevent him from cleaning up. In his endgame, Andy asks Dwight to unwedge something from a top shelf he cannot reach…which happens to be a Starbucks giftcard from everyone which completely destroys Dwight’s plan.
Michael decides during birthday cake that he is breaking up with Helene. He cites Pam’s feelings as being the reason. At the same time, Pam expresses her understanding that Michael truly makes her mother happy. So Michael takes another route:
“There is another woman and her name is Italy, and snowboarding, and skydiving.”
Michael offers Pam a raise so that she won’t harbor any resentment against him. When Pam is apprehensive to accept, he offers her the chance to punch him instead in the parking lot after work. She accepts, and Toby gives Pam a few tips on how to punch properly.
The entire office waits outside, crowded around Pam and Michael. When she draws her arm back, Michael stops her and apologizes instead. She accepts, but forces him to promise never to date a member of her family again. As she turns to leave, Michael says that Helene hit on him first, prompting a swift slap from Pam. Michael limps back into the building.
