Broke

"Broke" is the twenty-fifth episode of the fifth season of The Office, and the 97th episode overall. It was written by Charlie Grandy and directed by Steve Carell in his directorial debut. It first aired on April 23, 2009. It was viewed by 7.21 million people.

Cold open
Michael reveals that the Michael Scott Paper Company now runs paper deliveries at 5 am. Ryan, who says he gets sick by mornings now-a-days, is teased by Michael by moving the van when he reaches for the handle. Pam is told goodbye by a very sleepy Jim in his pajamas as Michael's honking disturbs their neighbor. Pam then explains that their delivery van is a repurposed church van that says "Scranton Hallelujah Church" in Korean on the side; the alternative being a school bus which had an owl living in it. Pam asks Michael for coffee and Michael hands her a flask and says "milk and sugar", only for Pam to realize that it contains only milk and sugar, something Michael says he drinks every morning instead of coffee.

Synopsis
Michael, Pam and Ryan visit an accountant to determine whether they can afford to hire a delivery person and discover that not only can they not afford one, but Michael's deep discounts and Ryan's flawed cash flow model mean that the company is on the brink of collapse.

Meanwhile, CFO David Wallace visits the Scranton branch to determine what can be done to stop Michael from stealing Dunder Mifflin's clients. Dwight's bizarre suggestions on how to get rid of the Michael Scott Paper Company cast him in a new light in Charles Miner's eyes.

Wallace realizes that he has to buy out the Michael Scott Paper Company. Jim "investigates" the situation (although he knows from Pam the Michael Scott Paper Company's desperate situation) and thwarts Dwight's efforts to warn David Wallace and Charles Miner that they are offering too much for the company.

Michael shows an uncharacteristic flash of brilliance during the negotiations, first bidding up the offer for his company from $12,000 to $60,000, and then on top of that demanding (and getting) his old job back as Regional Manager of the Scranton branch, as well as jobs for both Pam and Ryan. Wallace is furious that Ryan will be back at Dunder Mifflin considering the enormous damage he caused the company, and Ryan doesn't seem too thrilled to be working there either.

Deleted scenes
The DVD contains the following deleted scenes, including a lengthy subplot about expense reports, which was hinted at in the aired episode.
 * Michael screeches into his parking space and runs into his former office at Dunder Mifflin, apologizing for being late. Jim notes in a talking head interview that this is unusual: Michael is almost never late, and he also doesn't work at Dunder Mifflin any more. Erin brings Charles into Michael's office, saying, "That's him." Michael realizes he is in the wrong office and quietly leaves. Michael goes to the Michael Scott Paper Company office, apologizing for being late, but only Pam is there. Ryan is late.
 * Andy, frustrated that he lost another client to the Michael Scott Paper Company, looks for his "America's Got Talent" mug in the kitchen, where several of the women are taking a break. Phyllis commiserates: She lost two clients this week. Erin apologizes for taking Andy's mug. Andy immediately softens and uses a funny accent to tell her it's okay. But his magnanimity doesn't last long: He returns with an "Utz" mug for Erin and transfers her drink to it, so he can take his own mug back. Erin checks that the Utz mug doesn't belong to anyone.
 * Angela returns rejected expense reports to Stanley, Andy, and Phyllis. Stanley notes that she never objected to his cigars before. Angela explains that she now has the power to enforce the rules. Angela suspects that the "client" that Phyllis takes to Alfredo's every Saturday night is just Bob Vance. Phyllis says that Michael allowed it as a perk of the job. Angela says, "I get no joy from this," as she walks away, smiling.
 * In a talking head interview, Michael explains that he is known for working with his hands (typing, using the telephone), but he enjoys deliveries because he gets to use his feet. "Even though I consider myself a hands-on guy, I'm also a foots-on guy." He doesn't really seem to believe his own explanation, though.
 * Michael, Pam, and Ryan walk to the accountant's office. Michael explains to the documentary crew that he's excited to be meeting with their accountant. Ryan objects to Michael's use of the word "excited". "It cheapens the word. It's like the word 'love'."
 * Phyllis and Stanley bicker over splitting the cost of shared rejected expenses. Andy tells them that they need to join forces against their common enemy. "Reimbursements is whole reason I got into this business."
 * In a talking head interview, Michael says that he's been through this before. Mrs. Hirsch told him he was going to fail, and he told her she was going to be fired for her drinking problem.
 * In a talking head interview, Ryan says "I went to business school. I should've known better. Hell, I went to elementary school. I should have known better."
 * Ryan has a violent meltdown in the Michael Scott Paper Company office, "Everything I touch turns to failure!" He throws the jar of cheese puffs, scattering them all over. Pam runs out of the room. After Ryan calms down, he apologizes. Awkward silence. Ryan tosses a cheese puff at Michael, who fails to catch it in his mouth.
 * Andy asks Angela to reconsider his expenses, given their history "both romantic and thrice sexual." Angela corrects him: "Twice." She gives him a two hour extension to resubmit the expenses with complete documentation. "Then we're even."
 * Andy calls Dr. Rosenberg and asks for a letter confirming that his veneers and invisible braces are a necessary business expense given his job in sales.
 * In a talking head interview, David Wallace confirms that he's going to buy out the Michael Scott Paper Company. He doesn't know what to expect. He expected Michael's branch to fail, expected Michael's paper company to fail, he now almost expects the negotiations to fail, but he hopes things work out.
 * In a talking head interview, Michael explains that he is very nervous. "This is a classic David and Goliath," except that the Goliath's name is David. He says that he, Pam, and Ryan are all David. And Charles is Othello.
 * Andy waits impatiently for Creed to finish with the copy machine. He starts singing the William Tell Overture to the words "hurry up, hurry up, hurry up-up-up." Creed starts jogging in place. Andy tells Creed to stop goofing around. Creed shouts, "I'm dancing as fast as I can!"
 * Andy returns the completed expense report to Angela with a flourish, but Angela says that the deadline passed while he was saying "With no further rit-dit-dit-ado." Andy corrects her: It's "rit-dit-dit-ado". Angela sarcastically replies, "I know, I've always been such a fan of it."
 * David puts on his coat and, crestfallen, acknowledges that Michael got everything he wanted. Michael corrects him: "I got everything I asked for." David tries to talk shop like old times, but Michael is a little cagey. After David leaves, Andy asks Michael to sign his expense report. Michael looks it over and says "That looks like a fun month," and approves it, adding, "Let them eat cake. Or Courvousier, as it were." Michael points a happy finger at Jim, who returns the gesture. Dwight points at Michael, who ignores him.

Additional scenes not on the DVD:
 * In a talking head interview, Angela holds up a "Rejected" stamp and says, "I bought it for myself for my birthday. I've been waiting for a chance to use it. It came with an 'Approved' stamp, which I can't seem to find."
 * In a talking head interview, Phyllis complains about Angela's crackdown on expenses. "You take away my perks? See you later, alligator."
 * The shooting draft ended with Angela telling Charles as he's on his way out that it was an honor working for him. Charles leaves. Meanwhile, Kelly sits on the hood of Charles's car sexily. Charles goes to his car, and we learn that Kelly picked the wrong car. She rushes to the correct car and bangs on the window as Charles drives off. In a talking head interview, Charles says, "Never sleep with coworkers, man."

Connections to other episodes

 * Ryan was previously revealed to have committed fraud while being an executive of Dunder Mifflin in "Goodbye, Toby" with David Wallace expressing his hatred of him in a deleted scene from "Weight Loss".
 * Charles has been living in the Scranton Radisson throughout his time in Scranton. Karen similarly stayed at the Radisson before finding an apartment after her move to Scranton.
 * Michael refers to an upcoming stockholder meeting. We get to see that meeting in the future episode "Shareholder Meeting".
 * Michael requests that his healthcare plan includes dental coverage as part of the demands for his company's buyout deal. This is possibly to cover the expenses of his monthly soft teeth treatments, mentioned in the episode "Moroccan Christmas" (his soft teeth were first mentioned in "Dinner Party").
 * After selling his business back to Dunder Mifflin, Michael says that he is "flying high". When Michael quit his job in "New Boss", he told David Wallace, "You have no idea how high I can fly."
 * Michael cuts off Charles and prevents him from saying his goodbyes to the Scranton branch, just as Charles did to him in "Two Weeks".

Trivia

 * Pam correctly points out that the Korean message on the side of their van "스크랜턴 할렐루야 교회" translates as "Scranton Hallelujah Church". This explains why random Korean churchgoers attempt to board the van throughout the episode.
 * Pam wears a pencil skirt to deliver paper. NBC excutives insisted that Pam continue to wear pencil skirts.
 * The accountant's name is given in a deleted scene as Ty Platt. According to the sign on the building entrance in the same deleted scene, he works for "Turner & Adams LLP, Certified Public Accountants."
 * Ryan confesses that he didn't actually go to Thailand. This explains why all he could say about Thailand in "Dream Team" was, "It was indescribable."
 * Michael says that he's never had pad thai. In "Diversity Day", Michael says, "I love pad thai." He has been pretending to like pad thai all these years.
 * The "Idiot!" ringtone was made available for download after the episode aired. Download it here.
 * Despite being horrible at negotiating in "The Negotiation", Michael employs good tactics in this episode such as making an unreasonable demand so the real demand is more easily met, by demanding Charles be fired and then asking Pam and Ryan to be hired back as a lower demand.
 * It was David Wallace's idea to have Charles stay at the Scranton branch to learn the ropes since his arrival in "New Boss". It was not Charles's decision.
 * Charles Miner tells Michael that they don't make Sebrings any more. In fact, Sebrings remained in production until 2010.
 * Ryan pours Pam a glass of champagne to celebrate but neglects to drink himself. In the cold open he previously mentioned that he "got clean."
 * Ryan pours Pam a glass of champagne to celebrate but neglects to drink himself. In the cold open he previously mentioned that he "got clean."

Amusing details

 * When Michael honks the horn to pick up Pam, a light turns on in the neighbor's house.
 * Charles says he has no idea how to inspire the Scranton branch. Ironically, inspiring everyone was what Michael saw as his main goal as regional manager.
 * In Charles's talking head, Dwight sits behind him just off camera, just as he did with Michael.
 * Dwight enthusiastically yells David Wallace's name as Charles walks out of the conference room. This is likely a pre-arranged signal between the two to let Charles know when David Wallace is there.
 * It is revealed that Charles is eager to please David Wallace in the same manner that Andy and Dwight were eager to please Michael.
 * David Wallace is surprised by Charles's claim that has found Dwight to be a dependable right hand man. Charles realizes his mistake when Dwight suggests filling the Michael Scott Paper Company with bees.
 * Michael once again botches a saying, confusing "how the tables have turned" with "how the turn tables."
 * When Jim comes to visit the Michael Scott Paper Company office, Ryan holds a nearly-empty jar of cheese puffs. This is explained in a deleted scene.
 * Michael's fish is different yet again, the final installment of a running joke begun in "Michael Scott Paper Company".
 * During the conference between Charles, David Wallace, Jim, and Dwight, the two sides dress similarly: David and Jim both wear light blue shirts with dark ties, Charles and Dwight wear white/off-white shirts with striped ties.
 * When Jim leans into Pam to give her a kiss on the cheek, Pam puckers her lips in preparation for a kiss on the lips.
 * Despite having an MBA and being a former corporate executive, Ryan is as clueless as Michael and Pam about what a variable price model is.
 * Angela stands up whenever Charles leaves the conference room.
 * In a deleted scene, Michael pronounces "Courvousier" correctly. He normally botches complicated words.

Goofs

 * When Michael pulls the van forward when Ryan tries to get in, he makes a half-laugh and then shouts, "I lied." The half-laugh sounds like a "d", and the captions incorrectly read "Denied." (The line is not in the script. It was developed on set.)
 * Idris Elba breaks character and laughs when Kevin makes a very late greeting to David.
 * When Dwight learns that the Michael Scott Paper Company is about to go under, there is no one in the conference room, even though David Wallace told Michael to take the room to discuss his most recent offer.
 * Idris Elba's tattoo is visible during the conference room meeting.

Behind the scenes

 * This episode is Steve Carell's directorial debut, and the first time an episode was directed by a cast member. Normally, a director spends the week before filming preparing. Fortunately, the episode "Heavy Competition" contained many scenes without Michael, giving Carell opportunities to leave the set to do things like scout locations.
 * The working title for this episode was "Delivery Day".
 * The original cold open in the shooting draft involved Michael being late for work and accidentally going to his old office. It is included in the DVD as a deleted scene.
 * The pre-dawn scenes were actually shot in the evening. The opening at Michael's condo was one evening, and the pick-up scenes were another evening. The house used for Ryan's house was just down the street from the house that represented Jim and Pam's house. A production assistant was positioned in the neighbor's bedroom to turn on the light on cue. On the other hand, the delivery scene and the scene in which a Korean woman gets on the van were indeed shot early in the morning.
 * The cup of "milk and sugar" really contained only water. Pam's reaction was just good acting.
 * It was director Steve Carell's idea that Angela took personally Charles's memo about cost-cutting, and her "Thank you" was genuine gratitude to him for agreeing with her.
 * Dwight's "Been there done that" after Angela leaves was an improvisation.
 * Jim's "kissing" talking head was not in the script. In the script, Jim said, "So, OMG. Turns out Charles Miner is a huge kiss-ass."
 * The screen on the accountant's desk didn't change when he "crunched the numbers again" because it was a mock-up. There was no actual spreadsheet.
 * Jim's "Idiot!" ring tone was played from a speaker on set.
 * In the shooting script, the "turntables" line was "Well well well, oh how the meteor's fallen." The "How the turntables" version was developed on set.
 * In the shooting script, when Angela asks Kelly what she hears (eavesdropping on the meeting), Kelly says, "The ocean."
 * Andy Buckley (David Wallace) was still working as a financial advisor during the filming of this episode. On the day they shot the negotiation scene, the stock market suffered a record 750-point drop, and Buckley spent all his time between scenes calling clients and calming them down.
 * The shooting script ended with Angela and Kelly making one final play for Charles as he leaves. See Deleted Scenes above for details.
 * An earlier version of the script ended with Michael giving Pam and Ryan "Scotties", the Michael Scott version of the Dundies. Ryan gets "Great Style" and Pam gets "Boobs".

Cultural references

 * Michael asks, "It's 4:30 in the morning. Do you know where your kids are?" This is a slight misquote of the popular in the United States in the 1960s to the 1980s. At 10pm or 11pm, a brief announcement came on the television set: "It's (time). ".
 * A paper route is a job typically held by teenage children delivering newspapers to houses early in the morning.
 * Michael says, "Time to make the donuts!", the catch phrase from a series of television commercials for donut chain featuring  waking up before dawn muttering the phrase to himself.
 * Michael's mug of "milk and sugar" is from the convenience store chain, headquartered in Pennsylvania.
 * Ryan says "Ever since I've gotten clean..." To get clean is slang for to stop taking drugs.
 * Michael shouts, "Boner patrol!" Boner is slang for a male erection.
 * Michael, Pam, and Ryan sitting on the floor of their "office" sharing confessions echoes a similar scene from .
 * Michael anticipates being saddened by the death of comic actor, one of his comic heroes.
 * Pam applied for jobs at, , and , all national retail chains.
 * is a coastal city in Florida. It is a popular tourist destination, historically a popular destination for college students on.
 * is a traditional Thai dish.
 * When Kelly eavesdrops on David Wallace's meeting, she repeats what she hears by making muffled sounds, similar to the sound of adults in the Peanuts cartoons.
 * Jim addresses Michael, Pam, and Ryan as "Titans of Industry" when asking if they would be receptive to a buyout. This is a common phrase applied to industrial giants such as Andrew Carnegie and J. P. Morgan. It was also the less common name given to Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction-era Knights of the Guild. Michael misunderstands Jim and informs him that "not only are [they] tight ends, [they're] also quarterbacks," referencing two positions in American football.
 * In a deleted scene, Erin is given an mug. Utz is manufacturer of snack foods, headquartered in Hanover, Pennsylvania.
 * ' is the Biblical tale of a young boy (David) who defeats a giant (Goliath). Michael tries to extend the metaphor by calling Charles ', a black soldier and title character of 's .
 * In a deleted scene, Andy sings the fourth and final part of ', know to Americans as the theme to the television show ' and which has been closely associated with horseback riding as a result.
 * In a deleted scene, Michael tells Andy, "," erroneously attributed to . He then adds, "Or, as it were," referring to a brand of French cognac.

Main cast

 * Steve Carell as Michael Scott
 * Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute
 * John Krasinski as Jim Halpert
 * Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly
 * B.J. Novak as Ryan Howard

Supporting cast

 * Leslie David Baker as Stanley Hudson
 * Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone
 * Creed Bratton as Creed Bratton
 * Kate Flannery as Meredith Palmer
 * Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor
 * Angela Kinsey as Angela Martin
 * Oscar Nunez as Oscar Martinez
 * Phyllis Smith as Phyllis Vance

Special guest star

 * Idris Elba as Charles Miner

Recurring cast

 * Ellie Kemper as Erin Hannon
 * Andy Buckley as David Wallace

Guest cast

 * Kurt Scholler as Ty Platt