The Office

David Brent is informed by Head Office that his Slough branch of Wernham Hogg paper merchants might be closed down. David's deep rooted need to be popular triumphs over reality and he immediately promises the staff there will be no downsizing. Ricky, a new temp fresh out of college is shown around the office by David. He is introduced to Tim and Gareth whose fractious relationship is immediately apparent by a fight over a stapler and the construction of a Berlin Wall made from cardboard box files between their desks. In an effort to demonstrate his keen sense of humor, David blames Dawn of stealing Post-It notes and predictably, she does not see the funny side.

David hires Donna, the daughter of his best friend who is also staying at his house. While showing her round the office he finds a doctored pornographic image of himself. Gareth, who claims to have covert operations skills, is told to catch the culprit. Jennifer Taylor Clark visits from Head Office and wants to know what cutbacks David has made. David, displaying his genius as a manager, invents a warehouse employee that he has fired. Jennifer is impressed until a tour of the warehouse makes it clear that the employee's existence was entirely fabricated. Meanwhile, Gareth's investigations have revealed that the pornographic image was made on Tim's computer. David attempts to flex his managerial muscle until he realizes who actually created the picture.

It is Tim's 30th birthday, unfortunately for him, it's also staff Quiz Night at the bar and reputations are to be made or ruined. Ricky confesses that he has appeared on the quiz show Blockbusters and David, feeling intellectually threatened, is inspired to mention his (non-existent) knowledge of Dostoevsky. Gareth is the host while David and Finchy square-off against Tim and Ricky. The duel is fiercely competitive and Quiz Night comes down to a sudden death scenario with physical challenge that leaves birthday-boy Tim with no shoes.

To fend off the increasing staff frustration a team building training day has been scheduled. Dawn's engagement to Lee is on the rocks and Tim begins to think that he may at last have a chance with her. Staff training proves monotonous until Gareth announces, during a motivational exercise, that his ultimate dream involves two lesbian sisters. Post lunch the useless team building exercises continue until Tim announces his resignation and leaves.

David decides to hire a secretary, despite the fact that cutbacks still need to be made and existing Wernham Hogg employees threaten office morale. Tim has resolved to quit his job, determined to go back to school to study psychology and make something of his life. To change his mind, Brent convinces Tim to go out with him, Gareth, and Finchy to a bar called Chasers, where "Wonderbras get in free". And Donna finally reveals her new boyfriend is Ricky.

It is judgement day and David is told by Head Office that he will be promoted if he sacrifices the branch. True to his innate sense of self-preservation and greed, David leaps at the chance for a promotion. The office is shocked but Gareth is most devastated - who will take him seriously now he is no longer Assistant to the Regional Manager? However, David makes a surprise announcement at Chasers that he has now rejected the job offer in order to save the branch. But Malcolm discovers the real reason behind his change of heart involves a failed test.

Two weeks after the announcement that Slough has been saved from being shutdown, it is now time to merge and six new employees arrive from the Swindon office along with Neil - David's dynamic new boss. Tim immediately has a crush on new-girl Rachel and Gareth is up to his customary antics. Meanwhile, Tim's new Sales Manager post has gone to his head and he's becoming increasingly dismissive of Dawn. Making up for his ungentlemanly behavior by giving her a little dance in the office results in him being pinned against a wall by Lee.

Staff appraisals bring out secret confessions - Tim still thinks of returning to school to study psychology, while Dawn reveals she always wanted to be a children's illustrator. Meanwhile, David is getting the feeling that he is not very popular with the new employees. This prompts not only an existential examination of comedic prowess but also the realization that everyone likes Neil more. Elsewhere in the office Tim and Rachel really hit it off, much to Dawn's discomfort. David attempts to win over the Swindon employees with a lunchtime drinking session. However it's a wash and he ends the day getting drunk and reading self penned poetry to a mortified Dawn.

It's Trudy's birthday and in traditional highbrow office style she receives some sex toys. Meanwhile David's radical new business strategy of "team individuality" fails to impress Neil. However, David gets a boost in ego when headhunters from a public speaking agency arrive and for some inexplicable reason want to hire him. Trudy's party kicks into full swing and David is annoyed to discover that Finchy and Neil are old friends. In an effort to impress and assert his manliness, he is caught with his foot in his mouth.

Tim and Rachel finally appear to have slept together and are confronted by a horrified, confused and jealous Gareth, who realizes he has feelings for Rachel. However, Gareth finds comfort in the company of Simon the computer geek who is installing a firewall and able to talk authoritatively on all the subjects closest to Gareth's heart. Things seem to be getting worse for David as he first finds out that the staff have given him a nickname and then is reprimanded by Neil for being incompetent. Perhaps his ego will receive a boost from the success and acclaim of his motivational training that evening?

It's Comic Relief Day and everyone in the office is feeling silly. Keith is squeezed into a bright yellow Ali G costume, Sheila has become Wonder Woman and Gareth is hopping on one leg. The hilarity climaxes when Neil and Rachel stage an impressive dance sequence from Saturday Night Fever in the reception area. Dawn's money raising idea of selling kisses results in a close encounter with Gareth's friend 'Jimmy the Perv'. However things start looking up when Tim puts his money on the table and The Kiss finally happens.

The news of David's dismissal is not having the devastating effect on the office that he would have liked but brighter things are look up since Inside Paper are writing a feature on him. The Kiss on Comic Relief Day seems to have sparked Tim into action and before confronting Dawn with his true feelings, he breaks off his fling with Rachel. David's life goes from bad to worse when he is let go from his public speaking job and in a rage, throws his former employers out of his office. When Neil and Jennifer come to discuss his dismissal package David abandons his pride and begs for his job. But will they listen?

It's been three years since the BBC documentary crew first turned up at the office. Back for one last visit, they find Gareth Keenan now in charge and the Wernham Hogg office run with military precision. Since we last saw David Brent he has become a sales rep for a cleaning products company, released his own pop single and has acquired a showbiz agent to look after his celebrity appearances. He visits his old place of work regularly, despite him successfully suing Wernham Hogg for unfair dismissal.

Tim's world is rocked when Dawn turns up at the office to say hello. Despite a stern warning from Gareth and wise words from Keith in Finance, Tim can't help but be excited. Meanwhile, David Brent secured the services of a dating agency and, in between making celebrity appearances in nightclubs, he meets up for drinks with a rather disappointing selection of single women. The office Christmas party kicked off like any other but there were a few surprises in store.