Episode One (The Office, Series One)
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| The Office episode |
| Episode One | |
| Episode No. | 1 |
| Airdate | July 9, 2001 |
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The Office Series 1 |
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| List of all The Office episodes... | |
Episode One is the first episode of the first series of The Office. "Downsize" is an alternate title for the episode. It originally aired on July 9, 2001.
[edit] Synopsis
A documentary crew films the every day activities of a Wernham-Hogg paper merchant branch in Slough. The regional manager of the branch is David Brent, an irritating, middle-aged man who thinks he is as likable as he is entertaining. Among Brent's employees are Dawn Tinsley, Brent's reluctant receptionist; Tim Canterbury, a well-liked sales representative; and Gareth Keenan, the somewhat inept and sycophantic assistant to the regional manager.
Early in the day, Jennifer Taylor-Clarke visits David for a meeting to inform him that Wernham-Hogg can't run both a Slough branch and a Swindon branch. One of the branches will inevitably be merged with the other, depending on which is the most efficient. David panics at the thought of the Slough branch closing and his employees being made redundant, but he promises to keep Jennifer's announcement under wraps. However, rumors quickly spread around the office.
In addition to hiring a new forklift driver, David introduces new temporary employee Ricky Howard around the office. During Ricky's tour, Tim sparks conflict with Gareth after he discovers his stapler inside a jelly. Rather than punishing Tim, David focuses more on trying to come up with a joke for the situation. Later, after Gareth forbids Tim from using his stapler, Tim takes it and ends up dropping it out of a window after a humorous argument.
After various employees confront David about the rumors, David holds a meeting and explains the situation to everyone. Employees are immediately worried for their jobs.
At the end of the day, Tim invites Dawn to go out with him and some other employees for an "end of the week drink". Unfortunately, their conversation is interrupted by Lee, Dawn's fiancé.
Before Dawn leaves, David plays a practical joke on her to impress Ricky. He tells her that she is being fired for stealing Post-it notes. David doesn't clue Dawn in on the joke until after she begins crying. Ricky watches, silently horrified at the behavior of his new boss.
[edit] Trivia
- This episode was the basis of the American version's pilot episode in which much of the dialogue and plot was adopted nearly word for word.
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