Top
Although time has dragged on, the downsizing rumors at Dunder-Mifflin have not ceased. Dwight feels particulary threatened by the impending crisis, and, in an act of desperation, forms an alliance with his office nemesis Jim. Jim sees the alliance as an opportunity with great potential and agrees as a lark. He immediately enlists Pam's help in the situation.

Meanwhile, Michael tries to boost morale in the office by having an office birthday party for Meredith, even though her birthday is a month away. Michael agonizes over writing the perfect greeting in her birthday card. In the end his joke (and subsequent rejected one) falls flat, severely ruining the party. At the same time Oscar also gets him to donate money to his nephew's cerebral palsy walk-a-thon, which Michael mistakenly overcompensates money in an effort to look like a good boss.

At the end of the day, after a breakthrough in his pranks on Dwight, Jim giddily grabs Pam's hand in an attempt to explain what has just happened. However, Pam's finance Roy catches this and sees it as an attempt by Jim to make a move on Pam. Roy is visibly heated, although nothing ensues.

• The Dundie awards are first mentioned by Dwight in this episode. We finally get to see the Dundies in the episode "The Dundies".
• The first cut made of the episode ran over 40 minutes. Producers considered making the episode a two-parter, one focusing on the Alliance and another focusing on Meredith's birthday party.
• The car that Dwight kicks actually belongs to actress Phyllis Smith, who plays Phyllis on the show. Rainn Wilson stated that after every take she would tell him, "Please don't kick the hubcap too hard."
• A sign seen in this episode gives Dunder Mifflin's address as 1725 Slough Avenue, a reference to the UK The Office locale in Slough, Berkshire, England.

Michael: I think the main difference between me and Donald Trump is that, uh, I get no pleasure out of saying the words, “You’re fired.” (Impersonating Trump) “Yuh fi-yuhd … uh … yuh fi-yuhd.” He just makes people sad. And an office can’t function that way. No way. “Yuh fi-yuhd.” I think if I had a catchphrase, it would be, “You’re hired, and you can work here as long as you want.” But that’s unrealistic, so …

Dwight: It’s a real shame, because studies have shown that more information gets passed through watercooler gossip than through official memos. Which puts me at a disadvantage, because … I bring my own water to work.

Michael: No captain, no signs of life down here. Just a wet blanket named Pam. (Chortles at his own joke) Star Trek.

Pam: How ’bout green?
Angela: I think green is kind of whorish.

Pam: This was tough. I suggested we flip a coin. But Angela said she doesn’t like to gamble. Of course by saying that, she was gambling that I wouldn’t smack her.

Jim: At that moment, I was just … so happy. I mean, everything Dwight does, annoys me …

Jim: … and I spend hours thinking of ways to get back at him, but only ways that would get me arrested, and then here he comes, and he says, “No, Jim, here’s a way.”

Pam: An alliance?
Jim: Oh yeah.
Pam: What does that even mean.
Jim: I think it has something to do with “Survivor,” but I’m not sure. (Pam laughs) Um…I know that it involves spying on people, and we may build a fort.

Michael: Generosity and togetherness and community all convalescesscens into … morale, that’s what I say, so …

Jim: That was beautiful. All her idea, too…awesome. She’s so … great.

Dwight: I’m a deer hunter. I go all the time with my dad. One thing about deer, they have very good vision. One thing about me, I am better at hiding than they are … at vision.

Dwight: Can I trust Jim … I don’t know. Do I have a choice? — no, frankly, I don’t. Will I trust Jim, yes. Should I trust Jim … you tell me.

Michael: Y’know what, if I were allergic to dairy, I’d have to kill myself.

Michael: How many miles did he do last year?
Oscar: Last year he walked 18 miles.
Michael: Son of a bitch … that is impressive, good for him.

Meredith (reading card): This is from Michael … “Meredith, let’s hope the only downsizing that happens to you is that someone downsizes your age.”
Michael: Because of the downsizing … rumors. And because you’re getting old.
Meredith: No I … I get it.

Michael: I want it to be like, hey, who donated that hospital wing that is saving so many lives? Um, well, I … I don’t know, it was anonymous. Guess what, that was Michael Scott. But … uh … it was anonymous, how do you know? Because I’m him.

Toby: Really, today?
Ryan: Yeah.
Toby: Oh, happy birthday.
Ryan: Thanks.
Toby: I could say something …
Ryan: Don’t … do that.