Sabre

For the company see: Sabre (company)

"Sabre" is the fifteenth episode of the sixth season. It was written by Jennifer Celotta, who previously written "The Promotion," "Company Picnic," and "The Duel" and was directed by John Krasinski who marked his directorial debut with the episode. It aired on February 4, 2010. Kathy Bates and Zach Woods guest star.

Synopsis

The office gets a box of printer supplies from Sabre (pronounced 'Say-ber'). Michael thinks it is for him and distributes the items around the office. However, it is for Gabe Louis, new director of sales (Jan Levinson, Ryan Howard and Charles Miner's former jobs) and when Michael realizes this, he tries to put everything back in the box. Everyone works hard and they manage to pack it all away, however Michael accidentally leaves his cell-phone in the box and they have to unpack it all again.

Erin and Andy, assuming that Sabre is pronounced 'Sab-ray', sing a song for Gabe titled "Dunder Mifflin Is A Part Of Sabre" to the tune of Miley Cyrus's "Party In The USA". Gabe takes a video of the song, however, when 'Sabre' is repeatedly mispronounced, he shuts off his cellphone. Meanwhile, Andy and Erin continue to drop hints that they like each other with both oblivious to the others advances.

In the conference room, Gabe shows everyone a promotional video for Sabre, featuring Christian Slater. Michael and the rest of the office learns about Sabre's new policies. He is outraged that sites like YouTube and Twitter are blocked and that he will now be asked to drink out of a metal container rather than waste a huge amount of plastic cups. Gabe also impresses the idea that Sabre is primarily a printer company and that Dunder Mifflin will be a printer company which also sells paper. Michael asks Gabe to talk to someone higher up in the company. Gabe talks to CEO Jo Bennett, a stubborn no-nonsense boss who tells Michael to think hard about his future at Dunder Mifflin. It is clear she has no problem telling him off.

Meanwhile, Pam and Jim try to get into a highly-rated daycare center for their unborn baby. They arrive early for their interview and take the time to admire the facility. However, Jim walks into a children's bathroom to find a man sitting on the toilet and becomes embarrassed, before telling Pam about it. Jim and Pam have the meeting with Jerry, the day-care guy (who, it emerges, Jim had earlier walked in on the toilet). He doesn't seem to like Jim and Pam and tells them that they may not get in. Pam, finally, asks the guy if his problem is about Jim walking in on him in the bathroom, and Jerry awkwardly tries to defend himself. The meeting does not appear to end well.

Michael visits a newly-unemployed David Wallace, who is at home with his wife Rachel and their son. Their son plays drums loudly while David makes Michael a sandwich. David seems to have crashed, much like Jan Levinson after she was fired. David and Michael sit in the outdoor hot tub and Michael asks David how to deal with his problems with Sabre, however David is unable to come to Michael's rescue. They talk about David's future and David asks Michael if he would like to become involved with an idea called Suck It, a vacuum which sucks toys up. Michael shares with the documentary crew that he dislikes the new David and leaves.

Back at Dunder Mifflin, Michael brings in some orange juice for the office to drink out of their containers. He then makes a speech saying he thinks the relationship with Sabre will be a successful one.

Amusing details

The pizza Andy takes out of the refrigerator while looking for strawberries is Alfredo's Pizza, a pizza mentioned in the episode Launch Party.
Dunder Mifflin is now a division of Sabre.
Stanley has a bunch of Hot Wheels on his desk.
After contemplating for about 15 seconds, Dwight finally decides on putting the hotdogs on the ground.
As of this episode, Ed Helms is considered part of the main cast and is in the opening credits of the show along with B.J. Novak, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, and Steve Carell.
Sabre has its own website. It is full of mis-spellings and odd quips.
Sabre has its own cafeteria.
The day-care center is the fictional "Sandbox Daycare."
Gabe Louis uses a MacBook Pro, a computer seen many times on the show as a product placement. Macs are seen at least three times in this episode: at the day-care, at David's house, and with Gabe.
Michael throws the Sabre thermos and hits Stanley's car, last seen in season opener, "Gossip."
David Wallace stocks his refrigerator with beer.
The beer that Michael and David drink in the hot-tub is Yuengling beer, America's oldest brewery based in Pottsville, PA.
When David Wallace and Michael are in the hot-tub, Rachel watches them closely from the window.
Michael has always wanted everybody to be his friend. In this episode, he turns to David Wallace as a boss, but Wallace just wants to be his friend. Ironically, the one time he wants a boss, he gets a friend instead, and he doesn't like it.

Quotes

For quotes see: Sabre Quotes

Flashbacks

A scene from "The Deposition" was seen when Michael was explaining his relationship with David Wallace.
When Erin talks about waiting for Andy to ask her out, a scene from "Secret Santa" was seen, showing Andy getting 12 drummers as part of his gift to Erin. Andy then mentions the scene.

Connections to Previous Episodes

Nick, a Graphic Design guy who works now for Dunder Mifflin as an IT guy, met Pam in Season 4's, "Job Fair."
Teddy Wallace, David Wallace's son was last seen in the Season 3 episode, "Cocktails," along with Rachel Wallace. The roles were not re-cast.
YouTube may have been banned after Michael told Holly Flax that he spent five days watching Cookie Monster Sings Chocolate Rain on the popular website. This was revealed in "Business Ethics."

Goofs

Pam's painting, destroyed in "Mafia," was back on the wall, perfectly restored.

Trivia

Dwight's presence in this episode was limited. Actor Rainn Wilson was available for only one day of shooting due to his participation in the movie Super.
Michael's hair was so short because Steve Carell was shooting "Dinner for Schmucks" during the winter hiatus.
Lyrics to the "Sabre" song

Hopped off the plane in Scranton, PA
Another cloudy gray afternoon
Jumped in the cab here you are for the first time
Look to the right and you see the Electric City sign
This is gonna be a good day
For Dunder Mifflin and Sab-ray
So yeah, yeah, yay, yay
Dunder Mifflin is a part of Sab-ray (repeated)

The sciccors in the scene where Michael and Erin pass the sharp utensils was made out of rubber. ^[1]
When Michael says, "Suck B---," it was cut off because the writers thought that either the documentary or NBC would edit it out. ^[2]

Cultural References

Erin joins Michael's chant, "I got a big box," unaware that box is crude slang for vagina.
Andy and Erin's "Sabre" song was a parody of Miley Cyrus' song "Party in the USA".
YouTube is a hugely popular website where videos can be uploaded and watched by people.
Twitter is a social net-working site in which people can post things on walls in under 140 characters. It is used by many people including several crew-members of the show.
Climate change is a change in the weather and temperature on Earth and has scientists worried.
David Wallace makes a Fluffernutter sandwich, a sandwich consisting of bread, peanut butter and marshmallow fluff.
Jim asks the daycare administrator about Easter (a religious holiday) and Memorial Day (an American holiday).
Andy says, "That's as hard as I can hit," an unusual way of using the verb to hit on, slang for flirting with someone with the intention of asking them on a date.
Michael calls orange juice the sweet nectar of Gabe's homeland. The Florida orange juice industry actively promotes orange juice made in their state.

Cast

Main Cast

Supporting Cast

Recurring Cast

Andy Buckley as David Wallace

Guest Cast

Kathy Bates as Jo Bennett
Zach Woods as Gabe Louis
Christian Slater as Christian Slater
Owen Daniels as Teddy Wallace
Jean Villeque as Rachel Wallace
Nelson Franklin as IT Guy/Graphic Design Guy
Joey Slotnick as Day-care center director

References

[1] ttp://www.officetally.com/the-office-sabre-qa

[2] ttp://www.officetally.com/the-office-sabre-qa/3

[1]

[2]