INT.MICHAEL'S OFFICE
Michael and Jim sit on either side of his desk quietly looking at each other. Michael is serious while Jim is obviously confused.
JIM
You... wanted to see me?
MICHAEL
I understand you will not be in tomorrow.
JIM
Um... no. I will be in New York.
MICHAEL
(accusingly)
I hear you will be at corporate...
on an INTERVIEW.
JIM
Yep. Ryan's old job.They asked me to come in.
MICHAEL
Jim... do NOT interview for that job.
JIM
Why not?
MICHAEL
Because that job is evil, Jim.
It will change you. It will make you less
than you. More less than you than you
could more imagine.
JIM
(genuinely confused)
What?
MICHAEL
Jim... look at what it did to two people
I love. It'll ruin you. You'll end
up coke-addicted and in jail or...
insane and... and... pregnant!
JIM
Um... probably won't end up pregnant.
MICHAEL
Jim, PLEASE. I'm asking you as a buddy-
slash-boss... slash (beat) pal...
JIM
Buddy, pal. Same thing.
MICHAEL(continued)
...to NOT go on this interview.
JIM
Have to.
MICHAEL
Please.
JIM
Hard to back out of it now.
MICHAEL
Please.
JIM
Sorry, Michael but it's... it's
all set up, already.
(shrugs)
MICHAEL
Then you leave me no choice, Jim.
(reaches for phone, starts dialing)
You had your chance and now I must
do this.
JIM
Wow. Sounds kinda threatening.
We hear the phone ring through the speaker.
MICHAEL
Just remember, Jim you forced my hand.
(exaggerated black voice)
You bought dis on yo'self!
(regular voice, looking at camera)
Eddie Murphy. Delirious. Classic.
VOICE THROUGH PHONE
Dunder-Mifflin... this is Grace.
Jim gives a really exaggerated sad face to the camera.
MICHAEL
Ah, yes. David Wallace, please.
GRACE
Sure. Your name?
MICHAEL
Michael Scott.
GRACE
Uh, yes. Hold on.
MICHAEL
Sorry, Jimbo. I wish it weren't
this way.
JIM
Me too.
DAVID WALLACE
Michael.
MICHAEL
David. Michael Scott, here.
DAVID
Uh... yes. How can I help you Michael?
MICHAEL
Well, I have Jim Halpert here... and I
understand that...
DAVID
Hi, Jim! Gonna see you tomorrow,
right?
JIM
Oh definitely, David, I...
MICHAEL
OK, that's... let's just... stop. David.
(crosses arms defiantly)
I don't want Jim interviewing with
you tomorrow.
DAVID
Um... well... I don't see where that has
anything to do with you, Michael.
MICHAEL
David, David, David... I'm calling in
a favor. Remember... I, uh... I helped
kill that...
(pauses dramatically)
L.S.
DAVID
What?
MICHAEL
L.S. Don't wanna spell it out... Not
with a lesser employee present...
Jim looks at the camera.
DAVID
L.S... Um... Labor... strike?
We didn't have a labor strike.
We CAN'T have one.
MICHAEL
No, not labor... another L.S.
DAVID
Um... Laundry... Service. Um...
Laptop.... what am I doing?
Michael, I don't have time...
MICHAEL
Lawsuit! Lawsuit. I helped end that.
So I'm calling in a favor.
DAVID.
Michael. What you did was for the good
of the company. Not for me, personally.
MICHAEL
NO, what I did was for the good...
of the company, yes but... (beat) um...
it was also for the good of... um....
DAVID
The company.
MICHAEL
(shaking head)
Damn.
DAVID
Michael, I am going to be interviewing Jim
tomorrow for the vacant job here at corporate.
So... Is there anything else you wanted to say to
me?
MICHAEL
Yes. Could you... please not interview Jim
tomorrow?
DAVID
Goodbye, Michael.
(hangs up)
There is a pause as Michael and Jim look at each other.
MICHAEL
So... you'll... reconsider that interview, right?
Jim sighs and shakes his head to the camera.
JIM TALKING HEAD
JIM
Actually... I'm just going so I can surprise
Pam at her class. Really don't care about the
interview. I explained it all to Michael.(beat)
Probably... should've told him BEFORE he
called David, though...
(makes Jim Face)
Author's Chapter Notes:
Might end up re-writing this one... not sure of it. Didn't quite come out like I planned... Let me know what you think, please!
