Finally! After months of no interaction, Jim and Pam cross paths on an accidental phone encounter. The conversation itself was a return to Pam and Jim's deep connection to one another. Even though they kept the conversation light and friendly, there are deeper connotations.

There is more than one conversation going on here, both in what is being said and what is not being said. Both carefully avoided the awkward topic of Casino Night and subsequent events. Both are thankful for the familiarity of each other, as neither has experienced this type of familiarity in months. Neither Jim nor Pam are going to bring up anything that will detract from this sense of comfort, despite the obvious tensions and awkwardness. There's effort on both sides to preserve the comfortable aspects of their prior relationship.

Pam handled herself quite well, despite the fact that she was caught off guard.
After her initial shock of hearing his voice, she was happy to hear from him. It's obvious that Pam's new sense of confidence surely helped her find the strength to talk to Jim. Both the JAM optimist and pessimist are grabbing at arguments to support their viewpoints. Each side has a little something to grab onto!

I will be breaking from my normal pattern of dividing the JAM optimist and pessimist viewpoints. There is so much footage, that I will revert to a scene-by-scene analysis followed by brief optimist and pessimist arguments that relate back to the analysis.

Beginning of Conversation:

Pam is totally shocked when she hears Jim's voice on the phone. This is followed closely by fear. All the feelings she's been burying are now right in front of her with no escape. She has no choice but to face them head on. Luckily, Pam has built up enough confidence to keep her from cracking or running away. Despite her shock and fear she also has a deeper emotion of being glad to hear his voice.

We see this come to life after Jim says "Hi" to her a second time. Pam needed to feel that Jim had no ill will towards her. She really had no idea how he felt about her following Casino Night. She felt comfortable enough to give him a softer and more friendly "Hi." However, there is still some hesitancy and awkwardness in the air. Pam is thankful for the open-ended question that Jim poses in regards her still being at work. It gives her an answer she doesn't have to think about and shifts the topic of conversation to Michael.

Pam loves it that Jim asks for a copy of Michael's daily activity log. This is a nice reversion to their previous relationship of friendship. However, this leads to an awkward silence in which neither knows what to say next. It's here that we know Pam wants to hear more from Jim. She is actually waiting for him to say something to further the conversation. He has, after all, been the catalyst for the conversation thus far. When he doesn't say anything, she jumps in and breaks the silence with "so." The awkward exchange of words that ensues flusters Pam.

It goes back and forth a couple times until Jim throws the ball in Pam's court when he says "I'm sorry, go ahead." At this point Pam is cornered and panicking. She doesn't know what to say so she comes up with the old stand by of "everything is pretty much the same here."It's a safe conversation starter, but Pam feels silly saying it, especially after such an awkward exchange beforehand. She probably would've like to come up with something a little more interesting. Her emotions begin to seep into the conversation. She goes on to say that things are "a little different."Hidden in this statement is her admission that she misses him (Jim picked up on it too - but I'll save that for The Jim Paradox!). She is letting him know that it just isn't the same without him. There is a hint of sadness in her voice that gives away her feelings on his absence.

Pam realizes this as well and again becomes flustered. It is getting too emotional and she isn't ready to face those emotions yet. Both are trying very hard to avoid the awkwardness associated with the Casino Night and their subsequent lack of communication. Pam is desperate to find a way out of the awkwardness and emotional weight of the conversation without ending it. She misses him so much and if feel so good to hear his voice. Out of her nervousness she asks another question without really thinking about it. When she asks about the time, she doesn't really care about the answer. She is trying to save face and keep him on the phone. It comes out weird and she again feels silly.

Jim actually puts her at ease by how he answers it in a teasing fashion. He gives her the comfort level she needs to laugh at herself and calm her nervousness. This calming effect lasts longer when Jim asks playfully, "How far did you think we were?"Pam again slips into a more emotional state when she answers "I don't know, it felt far."She is again telling him she misses him. Jim in turn responds with "yeah,"which in turn lets her know that he misses her too. Both are able to pick up on the innuendo, so it isn't necessary to come right out and say it.

They share a close connection that exists beyond the words spoken, it extends to what is not being said. Both are aware that the other is not ready to explore the emotions associated with their past. This exchange brings back the closeness that both have missed for so long. It's enough for Pam to know that Jim misses her, (and likewise for Jim). That being said, neither is ready to go beyond that emotionally, but it does opens the door for further conversation. Both want the conversation to continue, but without the emotionally awkward baggage. They need the familiarity of their connection, so they are going to revert to a lighter mode of conversation that is reminiscent of their prior friendship.

How fast can you type?:

After the initial awkwardness we see Pam and Jim fall into the familiar pattern of playful banter that characterized their relationship before the kiss. This is actually a defense mechanism. We've seen this very mechanism used throughout season one and two. In order to avoid facing her feelings for Jim, Pam always engaged in playful lighthearted conversations, humor, and even a little light flirting. It's a nice distraction and it's innocent enough to mask the serious emotions she has for him. This is something both of them have engaged in for different reasons. Pam has always needed this mechanism to stay true to her moral center. She needed to see Jim as only a friend.

In this scenario however, everything has changed. She is now more worried about how Jim is perceiving her following the events of Casino Night. She is afraid that she's lost his good favor. She is also still unwilling and unable to fully contemplate her feelings for Jim. She is still in the same boat as before: she is not ready. She may no longer be attached to Roy, but she is still not ready to be with Jim. This defense mechanism helps her feel out Jim's perception toward her (is he mad, hurt, etc) and gives her the ability to keep her feelings hidden until she's ready to deal with them.

Pam is also dealing with a large amount of guilt. She hasn't come to terms with hurting Jim yet. She knows he left because of her and that is a hard thing to swallow. She is not sure how to even address this with Jim or herself and therefore wants to avoid it all costs. This defense mechanism is helping to keep all that buried for now.

We see Pam go along with Jim's light conversation regarding typing speed in order to satisfy her need to keep her emotions pushed down. She seems thrilled to be able to talk to her best friend again, despite recent events. Jim's playful tone gives her the reassurance that she can lay down her fears of Jim's possible resentment towards her. It's a welcome and needed conversation.

She even feels reassured enough to tease him. Again, the smile on her face shows how much she is enjoying this little reunion. She is laughing with him and teasing him the same way she did when he was in Scranton. There is even a little flirting going on as she pokes fun at his typing skills and laughs. She likes hearing his jokes again, as he always had a knack for making her laugh. As established in previous posts, humor was a major connecting factor for these two.

Not only is this conversation of defense mechanism, it is an escape route. Pam's life is full of change and Jim is giving her something familiar. He is giving her an escape from her uncertainty with the comfort of his voice and laugh. Even if just for a little while, things feel as they were before. Neither wants to bring up the events of Casino Night, so this light random conversation allows them to rekindle their connection without having to talk about a painful situation. Pam is particularly thankful for this as she is the one with the most explaining to do. The ball was in her court and she did not make a move before he left. This light conversation gives her that safety net she needs.

As long as the playful conversation continues she is safe from having to deal with her emotions, nor does she have to talk to Jim about Casino Night, (interestingly, Jim is once again part of creating that safety net). Plus, she is able to reconnect with her best friend. Pam desperately wants her friend back. She has yet to find a connection with anyone else since Jim left. She is trying with Kelly, but there is no substitute for Jim.

Movie Story:

An obviously large amount of time has passed. The conversation has grown more in depth and familiar. Almost all elements of awkwardness have disappeared. It's this part of the conversation that we learn Pam has told Jim all about her new apartment and basically her new life. Supposedly this took place prior to the noticeable cut, which was in place to show the passage of time. The prior portion of the conversation probably gave Pam the reassurance and comfort level she needed to be able to tell him about her life without Roy.

After the cut, Pam is telling Jim a story about how she'd mixed up "28 Days" with "28 Days Later" while at Blockbuster. Part of reason Pam tells this story is that she knows Jim will get a kick out of it. She is encouraging him to tease her and wants him to laugh. There are, however, a multitude of deeper meanings associated with Pam's descriptions within her story. Pam reveals a lot about herself and her emotional state without even realizing it. She starts out describing that all she wanted was a comfortable night at home alone. She goes on to describe how scary the movie was. This creates a vivid picture of her scared and alone in her apartment. This oddly parallels the reality of her life. She is embarking on whole new part of her life and it is a little scary. Plus, she is having to do it on her own. This is an insight into her vulnerability. She is still in a fragile state.

On another level, Pam is comfortable enough to tell Jim about being on her own and admit her weaknesses. This is of course all under the guise of friendly conversation! It's actually kind of cute how Pam defended herself in regards to her mistake in picking the wrong movie title. She probably knew Jim would give her a hard time and relished in her ability to make him laugh. It's another example of the desire she has to reconnect with Jim.

Jim does in fact tease her and calls her "fancy new Beesly." Pam is delighted with this nickname and continues the playfulness, by poking fun at her new living conditions. The sarcasm in her voice is actually an invitation for Jim to continue his teasing. This is another strive towards raising the comfort level between them. They've always connected by either picking on Dwight or on each other. It's the humor connection, again!

It's easy to sense the pride Pam has in all she has accomplished since Jim left. She's on her own, she has her own apartment, and she has reinvented herself. She is happy to be able to share it with him. This is a tricky topic to address as it can easily lead to the topic of the wedding cancellation and the tensions between them. Hence, the sarcasm and joking manner in which she addresses her apartment. She knows to keep it light and funny in order to avoid having the conversation spiral into emotionally heavy and awkward topics.

End of Call:

In the middle of Jim and Pam's banter on her apartment, Ryan enters the office. His haggard state elicits concern from Pam. She is naturally a kind and compassionate person, so she is willing to interrupt her attention to the conversation to check up on Ryan. Unfortunately, this breaks her concentration. She accidentally takes her hand off the phone and tells Ryan goodbye. Jim takes it the wrong way and Pam and realizes it right away. She immediately tries to save the conversation, but the awkwardness has already come back. She knows Jim thinks she is trying to get out of the conversation, or just trying to get off the phone. She's afraid that he thinks she was trying to get rid of him.

Another awkward series of words are exchanged. Both are trying to save to conversation, unaware that the other is doing the same thing. Both are now under the impression that the other is trying to get out of the call. Pam falls into the natural trap of asking Jim if he has to go. When he says "yeah," she does the next second nature thing of saying she should probably go as well (c'mon we've all done it!). Her regret with this statement is immediately obvious. She desperately wants to save the conversation. She makes one more effort, but soon after realizes the futility of it with "I mean . . . yeah." The flow and playfulness of the conversation has been broken and replaced with the initial awkwardness and hints of the hurt that exists between them.

Interestingly, she waits for Jim to revive the conversation. She's hoping he can find something funny or light to say to bring it back. Silence is all that follows. She is also unwilling to be the first to say goodbye. She doesn't want to let him go, its all over her face. This is the closest she's had him in her life for months. The call itself reminded her of how much she needs him. It also means she can no longer hide behind the conversation. All of her feelings are bubbling to the surface and she knows she will have to deal with them on some level after she hangs up.

When Jim finally says goodbye, she knows it's over. Sadly, Pam has to say goodbye to him all over again. She even waits for him to hang up the phone first. Part of me believes she is still holding out hope that the conversation will start again, but realistically she having trouble letting go. While hanging up the phone, she is worried that she's hurt Jim again. She knows her accidental goodbye was taken the wrong way and she didn't get the chance to explain it to him. We see Pam then shift to an expression of longing. Talking to him has amplified how much she misses him. She has to return to the reality of her life without him. She can't help but sneak a look at Jim's empty former chair. It signifies the hole in her life that the absence of Jim has created.

Sadly, all the awkwardness and distance that was somewhat remedied during the conversation has totally come back. If anything, this part of the conversation showcases the thin veneer of the defense mechanisms in place throughout the conversation. A tiny interruption destroyed the already fragile safety nets in place. As much as they try to hide from the tension, hurt, and awkwardness between them, it's still there and needs to be dealt with. Unfortunately, neither is ready to go down that road.

Generalities:

The conversation as whole shows Jim and Pam's connection transcends all that divides them. Both feel the need to be around each other so much, that they are willing to put aside difficult emotional issues in order to hear each other's voice. They feel the void of each other's absence very deeply. They talked for a long time! This was not just a casual 15 minute conversation. The windows in Jim's office clearly show time has passed. At the beginning of the conversation the sun is still up while at the end it is clearly dark outside. We have no way of knowing how long they spoke, but the fact that two cuts were made in the conversation lends to the conclusion that is was a substantial amount of time. We need to take into consideration that they probably would've talked longer had it not been for Ryan.

Did anyone else notice the conversation was centered mostly around Pam? She didn't really step out on a limb and ask Jim about his new life. She probably avoided this topic out of fear. She may be fearful that he's found someone new. This is Pam's jealousy kicking in again. She simply isn't ready to know and/or doesn't want to know.

- - -

JAM Optimist:

1. Pam misses Jim and was happy to hear from him
2. Pam and Jim haven't lost their connection
3. Pam teased and flirted with Jim
4. Pam didn't want the conversation to end, nor did she want to say goodbye

JAM Pessimist:

1. Pam wouldn't address the issues of Casino Night. Until she (and Jim) do this, JAM will not happen.
2. The conversation ended awkwardly with a lot of pain in the air. We are essentially right back where we started. Most of the issues dividing them are still in place.
3. The conversation happened by chance. Neither intended to initiate it.

Questions to Ponder:

1. Will there be subsequent communication? If so, who will initiate and what form of communication will be used?
2. Will this conversation open Pam up to talking about Jim in her talking heads or elsewhere?
3. Who will be the first to bring up discussion regarding the events of Casino Night? (If of course it's ever brought up as a topic of conversation!)
4. If Ryan didn't interrupt, what else would Jim and Pam have talked about? How much longer would the conversation have lasted?
5. What did Pam do with the teapot Jim gave her for Christmas? (A little off topic I know, but I'm watching Christmas Party as I write this!)