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Fun Run

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Fun Run
Season
Episode

1
Production Code
04001
Airdate
September 27, 2007
Written by
Directed by


"Fun Run" is the first episode of the fourth season of The Office. It was written and directed by Greg Daniels. It first aired on September 27, 2007 as the premiere of the fourth season and was an hour-long episode.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

[edit] Part One

In a series of interviews, updates are given on the events that have taken place since "The Job". Michael and Jan are still living together, although she apparently puts little effort into the relationship and is usually still asleep when Michael leaves for work. Jim confirms that he broke up with Karen in New York. He says she insisted that she would continue working in Scranton, but disappeared immediately afterward. Jim and Pam indicate that they have been seeing each other socially, but only as friends. Kevin insists that they're secretly dating, since they seem so happy. He even comes up with a nickname for them: "PB&J" which stands for "Pam Beesly and Jim."

As he arrives at work, Michael accidentally hits Meredith with his car, sending her to the hospital for a fractured pelvis. This event alarms the rest of the office, and especially Michael's new direct superior Ryan, who is concerned about a lawsuit. As Meredith's coworkers make plans to visit her, Michael takes over, insisting they should all go together en masse on their lunch break. Angela bows out at first in order to attend to the intense medical regimen of her ailing cat, Sprinkles. Pam insists that Angela, as head of the Party Planning Committee, has a responsibility to be part of the visit. Dwight agrees to care for the cat in her place. Meanwhile, Pam's computer gets a virus necessitating the technical support employee, Sadiq to be called in; it is revealed she got the virus while trying to buy a celebrity sex tape.

The visit to the hospital is awkward, as Michael tries to extract forgiveness from Meredith, and Creed quizzes her about the pain killers she is taking. Upon the group's return to the office, Dwight unceremoniously informs Angela that her cat is dead, but is now "in a better place" (specifically, Angela's freezer).

The combination of Meredith's accident, Sprinkles' death, and the virus on Pam's computer convinces Michael that the office is cursed. He convenes a meeting to determine the cause, where he demands to know everyone's religious beliefs. Michael ultimately comes to the conclusion that "God is dead." Blaming Toby for the "curse," he orders research into mythical animals to which they could offer a sacrifice.

Dwight discovers during his own courtesy visit to the hospital that Meredith has had a precautionary rabies shot due to several recent animal bites (including a bat bite caused by Dwight himself). He informs Michael, who immediately takes credit for saving Meredith's life by sending her to the hospital. With that bit of good news, he decides the curse is over.

Kevin spies in the parking lot to see whether Jim and Pam are secretly getting together outside the office. He is disappointed to find no evidence, but the camera crew discovers Pam pulling over to a curb a block away and picking up Jim. They kiss and drive away.

[edit] Part Two

Jim and Pam privately are shown the footage of them taken at the end of Part One. They lamely deny a relationship at first, but Pam finally gives up and acknowledges they are dating. Both confirm things are going well, although they seem to have no immediate intention of telling the rest of the office.

Michael is still feeling guilty about hurting Meredith, so he decides to lead a charity 5K fun run, entitled "Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure" in an attempt to bring awareness to the dangers of rabies. The staff is mostly unsuccessful in getting donations, and nearly all of the $700 raised was donated by Jan (who is actually just donating Michael's money since she is now unemployed). Michael decides to spend $200 of that money on an oversized check, which he wants to present to a "rabies doctor."

Pam inadvertently walks in on Michael while he is changing for the race, even though Michael had said "Come in" in response to her knock on the door. Michael attempts to defend himself: "European offices are naked all the time." In a talking head interview, Pam rejects the advice that if nervous during public speaking one should picture the listeners naked.

Michael insists that everyone in the office participate in the 5K, although few take it seriously. Stanley, Creed, and Oscar take a taxi to grab some beers, returning to the race just feet from the finish line. Jim and Pam mostly walk, hand-in-hand, stopping at an estate sale where Pam buys a lamp. Kevin is quickly drenched in sweat because he forgot to bring running clothes, while Andy suffers from extremely irritated nipples.

Along the way, Angela confronts Dwight with her suspicion that Sprinkles had been deliberately killed. To her surprise, Dwight acknowledges doing so, saying his "farm" attitude is that any animal that is suffering (and cannot pull its own weight) should be put down. Angela is furious, saying that being euthanized prevents Sprinkles from being in "cat heaven."

Toby ends up finishing first thanks to some inadvertent help from Dwight (who slipped Toby Imodium instead of laxatives). His joy short-lived as he learns that the course Michael created was not circular, leaving everyone five kilometers from the office.

Michael, who had decided to "carbo-load" on fettuccine alfredo and abstain from water, quickly becomes ill, but is convinced by Jim and Pam to continue. He considers reaching the finish line a major accomplishment, and is given Pam's lamp as a trophy.

Michael's poor dietary choice puts him in the hospital for dehydration, where he is visited by Meredith. In recognition of his attempt to make up for the car accident, she forgives Michael.

[edit] Trivia

  • Despite appearing in every episode since the pilot, this marks the first episode that Creed Bratton is credited as part of the main cast. Craig Robinson also joins the main cast.
  • An old name for rabies is "hydrophobia". In advanced stages of the disease, the victim has a fear of liquids.
  • The religious affiliations of many characters are revealed in this episode.
    • Darryl and Pam are Presbyterian.
    • Phyllis is a Lutheran and Bob is a Unitarian.
    • Sadiq is a Sikh.
    • Creed has been in many cults, both as a leader and a follower.
    • Stanley is Catholic.
    • Kelly is Hindu.
    • A deleted scene reveals that Oscar was raised Catholic, but now identifies as agnostic.

[edit] Amusing details

  • During the argument between Karen and Jim, both Phyllis and Angela look towards the reception desk as if to say "This is your fault."
  • In a deleted scene, Michael gives the correct definition of secular humanism (which is suprising).

[edit] Connections to previous episodes

  • Phyllis sews three squares of a 'rabies quilt' on Michael's orders. In Safety Training, Dwight suggests that a 'despression quilt' be made as a visual aid.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Main Cast

[edit] Supporting Cast

[edit] Recurring Cast

[edit] Guest Cast

  • Takayo Fischer as ???
  • Sylvia McClure as Nurse
  • Justin Spitzer as Hospital Intern


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