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The Office (UK) :: Downsize (01x01)
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Episode Information |
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| Title: | Downsize |
| Episode #: | 01x01 |
| Original Airdate: | Monday July 09th, 2001 |
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Episode Summary |
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Despite the fact that David is told either his branch or a competing branch will be downsized, he has nevertheless brought in a temp worker, Ricky. David then gives him a little tour of the office in order to familiarise him with both the work and his new colleagues.
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Guest Stars |
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Episode Notes |
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The scene where Tim drops Gareth's stapler out of the window was totally improvised. This happened because the episode was running short.
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Episode Quotes |
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David: What is the single most important thing for a company? Is it the building? Is it the stock? Is it the turnover? (Shakes head) It's the people. Investment in people. Yeah? My proudest moment here wasn't when I increased profit by 17%, or cut expenditure without losing a single member of staff. No. It was a young Greek guy, first job in the country, hardly spoke word English, but he came to me and went, 'Mr Brent, will you be godfather to my child?' So . . . (long pause) Didn't happen, yeah; we had to let him go. He was rubbish. He was rubbish.
| David: As you are aware, there are going to be redundancies; and you've made my life easier inasmuch as I'm going to have to let you go first.
Dawn: What? Why?
David: Why? Stealing. Thieving.
Dawn: Thieving?
David: Yeah.
Dawn: Um . . . er . . . What am I meant to have stolen?
David: Post-It Notes.
Dawn: Post-It Notes? What are they worth, about 12p?
David: Oh, got your Bible on you, Ricky?
Ricky: No.
David: 'Thou shalt not steal unless it's only worth 12p.' You steal a thousand Post-It Notes at 12p, and you've made (thinks) profit . . . on that.
| David: You've seen the vibe, yeah? Chilled out. Ah, dear! We work hard. I mean, we play hard. Play hard when we should be working hard sometimes, partly down to me, sure. Um . . . I let them get away with murder, which then they let me get away with murder, you know? The girls love me, but-er, not in that way, some of them . . . um . . . but, er . . . you know, I suppose I've created an atmosphere where I'm a friend first and a boss second. Probably an entertainer third.
| (Tim holds Gareth's stapler out of the window)
Tim: I'm going to let this go, right, unless you stop acting like a fool.
Gareth: Well, you won't, so . . .
Tim: (takes his hand inside) Well, I have, so . . .
Gareth: What if that killed someone?
Tim: Oh, killed som– . . . um . . . well, they'll think you're the murderer; it's got your name on it.
Gareth: Why would a murderer put his name on a murder weapon?
Tim: To stop people borrowing it.
| Gareth: He put my stapler inside a jelly again. That's the third time he's done it. It wasn't even funny the first time.
David: Why has he done that?
Gareth: I told him once I don't like jelly. I don't trust the way it moves.
David: Yeah, you showed him a weakness, he pounced. You should know about that.
| Gareth: Yeah, it's all right here, but people do sometimes take advantage because it's so relaxed. You know, I like to have a laugh just as much as the next man, but this is a place of work. You know, I was in the Territorial Army for three years, and you can't muck about there – it's one of the rules.
| Tim: You're a twat, Gareth. You're a twat and a knob end.
Gareth: I'm still not listening, so it's not offending me, so . . .
Tim: Right, Ok, so you won't hear this: you're a cock, you're a cock, you're a cock. (pause) You're a cock.
| David: Yeah, sure, she--she--she'd say she's the boss, yeah, but . . . there should be no ego when you're pulling together to do something good, yeah? It's like... Comic Relief, yeah? I'm out here in Africa, and I'm seeing the flies and the starvation, and she – if she is the boss – she's in the studio with, er, you know, Jonathan Ross and Lenny Henry, they're got their suits on, they're doing their bit they're counting the money – good luck to them, but their hands are clean, while I'm down here in the office with little starving kids.
| David: I'd say, at one time or another, every bloke in the office has woken up at the crack of dawn! (laughs)
Dawn: What?!
David: (embarrassed) Can I have the mail, please?
| David: Dawn, this is from Head Office.
Dawn: I know.
David: How many times have I told you there's a special filing cabinet for things from Head Office?
Dawn: You haven't told...
David: It's called the wastepaper basket!
| David: Head Office don't really interfere with me at all. Um . . . er . . . Jennifer might come down once a week, Jenn–er–Jennifer Taylor-Clark. We call her, er, Camilla Parker-Bowles! Not to her face, but I mean, not 'cause I'm scared of her.
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Episode Goofs |
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In the meeting with Jennifer, Dawn confesses to David's 'joke' about the 'special filing cabinet', but when you watch that other scene you can distinctly hear David ask, at the very end, 'can I get that back?'
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Cultural References |
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David: Wazzup?!
"Wazzup?" was a very popular and overused catchphrase from a Budweiser commercial.
| David: We call her Camilla Parker-Bowles.
Camilla Parker-Bowles was mistress of Charles, Prince of Wales when he was still married to Princess Diana.
| David: It's like... Comic Relief.
The Comic Relief charity organisation was founded in the United Kingdom in 1985 and it raises money for Africa and disadvantaged people in the United Kingdom. The event is broadcast live on BBC1 and is hosted by Lenny Henry, Griff Rhys Jones and Jonathan Ross.
| David: "Ricky. No, Ricky!" What was his girlfriend's name in EastEnders?
Ricky: Bianca.
David: "Ricky! Leave it!"
EastEnders is a popular BBC television soap opera, which has run since 1985. Ricky Butcher and Bianca Jackson were two characters played by Sid Owen and Patsy Palmer, respectively.
| David: Do you wanna get some batteries for Billy Big Mouth?
That fish on a plaque is 'Big Mouth Billy Bass': a cheesy, singing, dancing fish on a plaque.
| David: "Popcorn". Ben Elton.
"Popcorn" is a 1996 dark comedy which explores the effects of movie violence, written by British comedian and writer Ben Elton.
| David: This guy does the best Ali G Impersonation.
Ali G is a satirical character created by the comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. He is recognised by his many catchphrases like "Keep it real," "aiii," "Boyakasha" and "Respec."
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Featured Songs |
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Episode References |
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Analysis |
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