Pool Party (The Office)

After Robert California is forced to sell his mansion at the behest of his ex-wife following his divorce, Kevin Malone suggests that he have an office pool party. Andy Bernard takes his girlfriend Jessica to the party and brings an engagement ring his Jessica-approving mother gave him, albeit without a center stone. The ring goes missing from Andy's pants and he is horrified that he cannot find it. Kelly Kapoor and Phyllis Vance later find the ring and, thinking it had belonged to Robert’s wife, decide that it is bad luck and must be destroyed, setting it in the pool atop a tiny pyre.

Erin Hannon, having been told by Meredith Palmer that Andy followed her home after the Christmas party, decides to make Andy jealous by flirting with Dwight Schrute. Dwight initially refuses, but, after realizing that Erin's choosing him as her co-conspirator is flattering to his attractiveness, agrees to help. The two flirt outrageously whenever Andy is close by, but Andy does not notice, as he is too busy worrying about the missing ring. To ensure Andy's attention, Erin and Dwight challenge Andy and Jessica to a series of chicken fights in the pool. After several defeats, Erin is so determined to win a match that she pushes Dwight to the point where he passes out in the water, ending the game. In a final attempt to make Andy jealous, Dwight tells Andy he wants to pursue a romance with Erin but wants to avoid an "Angela kind of situation" between them. Andy assures Dwight that he and Erin are through but, at the mention of Dwight having sex with Erin that very night, suggests that Dwight take things slowly instead, leading Dwight to pointedly tell him, "You're an idiot." Erin later swims up to Andy with the lost ring, having recognized the Bernard family seal. Andy admits that he is confused about his feelings for Jessica, making Erin very happy.

While most of the employees are congregated in the pool area, Robert gives some of the guys - Jim Halpert, Gabe Lewis, Ryan Howard, Oscar Martinez, and Toby Flenderson - a tour of his massive home, spending most of the time mournfully describing how it was intended to be the location for wild Bacchanalias. Ruing that his wine cellar will only "go to the lawyers" if left undrunk, he opens it to those at the party, who proceed to get drunk with him. Oscar bonds with Toby after he notices Toby's great wine choice, though Toby just picked it randomly. Toby plays along, glad to be making a friend, but laments the consequences he will later have to face. Jim had intended to make a token appearance at Robert's party and quickly return home to his wife and kids; however, Robert, sensing his reluctance to be there, insists that Jim stay for the duration of the tour; in order to punish him for laughing at an inopportune moment earlier that day as Robert had complained about having to sell his house. Gabe and Ryan brown-nose Robert throughout the entire night. Eventually, Robert realizes that he is hosting one of the parties he had always imagined, at which point he jumps into the pool completely naked, followed by Gabe and Ryan. Jim takes this as his cue to leave, sneaking away and driving home at top speed, even driving on the lawn and running over a mailbox on the way out. At the end of the night, Gabe and Ryan, both drunk and unwilling to concede defeat to the other, remain at the party with Robert even as the CEO passes out.

The episode was written by co-producer Owen Ellickson, his first writing credit for the series after joining the writing staff in the eighth season.^[1] It was directed by Charles McDougall, his seventh directing credit for the series.^[1] The episode also marks the sixth appearance of Lindsey Broad, who plays Cathy, Pam's replacement during her maternity leave.^[2] Due to Jenna Fischer's actual pregnancy, Pam did not appear in the episode.^[3] The Season Eight DVD contains a number of deleted scenes from this episode. Notable cut scenes include Erin and Dwight taking turns suggestively massaging and stretching each other, Erin talking to the camera about her convoluted relationship with Andy, and Robert showing his guests his "shame" room.^[4]

The songs "Big White Elephant" and "Model Homes" by the band In-Flight Safety were featured during scenes at the party.^[5][6] The song "Can't Complain" by Bomb the Music Industry! appeared around 14 minutes in.^[1] Many of the references were a result of Robert California bemoaning his position in life. He mentions early on in the episode that, "The 1% are hurting too", a reference to the slogan of the Occupy movement.^[1] During the tour of his home theater, California explained that he had it created to watch Caligula, Last Tango in Paris, and Emmanuelle 2, but that the last two movies he watched in there were Marley & Me and On Golden Pond.^[1][7]