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Michael and Jan take a client to a Chili's for an important meeting. Jan is disgusted with Michael's antics and general refusal to talk business but discovers at the end of the day that there is a method to his madness when the client bonds with Michael, allowing him to close the deal. Afterwards in the parking lot, Michael and recently-divorced Jan share a kiss.

Meanwhile, Pam finds a screenplay written by Michael, and Jim leads the office staff in a table read of the script. An editing error in the script reveals that Michael based the incompetent sidekick on Dwight, who quickly shuts down the exercise to invite everyone to set off fireworks outside. Jim and Pam break off their respective evening plans to enjoy an impromptu dinner on the roof and watch the firework show.

The following morning, Dwight and Angela independently observe Jan returning to her car (still parked at Dunder-Mifflin), and word quickly travels around the office. Michael initially tells the documentary crew that "nothing happened," that they talked for several hours before falling asleep, but his story gradually changes to imply that they did more than just talk. Jan calls, clearly regretful for what she did the previous evening, but Michael refuses to accept her change of heart.

• This episode was originally intended to air before "Halloween," as evident in a deleted scene where Devon can clearly be seen in the background at his desk.
• Tim Meadows and Steve Carell improvised an enormous amount together while the cameras were on, but the majority never made the final cut.
• The idea for Jan and Michael to "hook up" was conceived by Carell as far back as the filming of the pilot episode. The writers described their relationship as "it was like he was turned on by his teacher."
• Although Michael says that Chili's is "a couple blocks away" and mocks Jan for not knowing this about Scranton, in reality there is no Chili's in Scranton — the closest one is about 30 minutes away in the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre.
• Michael's screenplay is called Threat Level:Midnight.
• When the workers are table reading Michael's script the parts they play are as followed:
  • Dwight as Agent Michael Scarn (The protagonist)
  • Ryan as Samuel L. Chang (The bumbling African-Asian-American sidekick)
  • Phyllis as Catherine Zeta-Jones (The love interest)
  • Oscar as Goldenface (The antagonist)
  • Jim as the actions in the movie
• Reshoots were needed to explain the "Dwigt" situation clearly and concisely. On the day of the reshoot, Jenna Fischer had a cold; you can hear the change in her voice when she says, "leaving behind one Dwigt."
• During the scene where Christian and Michael eat baby back ribs, the sound effects were added in later by the editors. Apparently, Steve Carell and Tim Meadows weren't being loud enough.
• The producers tried to get the rights to use the Rolling Stones' iconic tongue logo for Michael's tie. They were unsuccessful.
• The scene where Jim insults Pam for being ditched at a hockey game upset Jenna Fischer so much that after filming, she asked John Krasinski for a hug to show that he wasn't actually angry with her.
• Paul Lieberstein said the first idea that anybody came up with for this episode was the final shot, where Jim and Michael look at each other and shake their heads, suggesting that they had just been through similar experiences. The episode was written so events would lead to that scene.
• The story of Oscar's first date is based on an actual date that writer Paul Lieberstein went on. (This episode takes place before it is established that Oscar is gay. The story could also have been fabricated, Oscar might have switched the gender of the date, or it could have been a true story.)
• The original ending to the episode (seen on the DVD deleted scenes) was Jim following up on the game earlier in the episode by telling the story of his worst first date. He's being evasive and vague about details, but gradually it becomes clear that he's describing a date he went on with Pam before he learned she was engaged to Roy. He says he found out later that she didn't even think of it as a real date and she was in love with another guy. Jim concludes, "My best first date was also my worst first date."
• The song on Jim's iPod that he and Pam sway to was originally a song by Interpol, as explained in the DVD commentary.

Ryan: Who dry cleans jeans?

Pam: Michael and his jeans. He gets in them and, I’m not exactly sure what happens. But, I can tell you, he loves the way he looks in those jeans. I know that’s why he started casual Fridays.

Michael: Wow, graphs and charts. Somebody’s really been doing their homework. Looks like USA Today.

Jim: So, this possible client they’re talking about, actually a big deal. It’s Lackawanna County. Our whole county. And if we get this, they might not have to downsize our branch. And I could work here for years. And years. And…years.

Michael: Here’s the thing, Chili’s is the new golf course. It’s where business happens. Small Businessman Magazine.
Jan: It said that?
Michael: It will. I sent it in. Letter to the editor.

Jim: I always knew Pam has refused to go to sports games with Roy. But, I never knew why. Interesting.

Michael: Hey everybody, listen up. This is what we’re gonna do. You sit tight until I return. Sound good? Doesn’t matter, it’s an order. Follow it blindly!

Michael: Jan Levinson-Gould. Jan is cold. If she was sitting across from you on a train, and she wasn’t moving, you might think she was dead.

Jan: What kind of trouble are you planning on getting in, Michael?

Michael: Megan, may we have an Awesome Blossom, please, extra awesome?

Michael: First guy says, “Well, I’m an astronaut, so I drive a Saturn.” And the second guy says, “Well, I am a pimp, so I drive a cheap Escort.” And the third guy says, “I got you both beat, I’m a proctologist, so I drive a brown Probe.”
Christian: Oh, no! Oh my god, that’s funny! I almost had Awesome Blossom coming out of my nose!
Jan: Excuse me, could I have a vodka tonic please?

Michael: That’s why I wanted a signal between us, so I wouldn’t have to just shout nonsense words. That’s her fault.

Michael: Did somebody say babyback ribs?

Dwight: Yes, I have acted before. I was in a production of Oklahoma in the seventh grade. I played the part of Mutey, the mailman. They had too many kids, so they made up roles like that. I was good.

Phyllis (as Catherine Zeta-Jones): The first message is, I love you. That’s from me.
Dwight (as Agent Michael Scarn): Not in a thousand years, Catherine. We work together. And get off my desk.

Ryan (as Samuel L. Chang): Agent Michael Scarn, you lost some weight.
Dwight (as Agent Michael Scarn): Thank you for noticing.

Ryan (as Samuel L. Chang): Ha ha ha, Agent Michael Scarn. You so funny. Word.

Kevin: Michael’s movie? Two thumbs … down.

Oscar: Mr. Scarn, perhaps you would be more comfortable in my private jet.

Pam: Here’s what we think happened. Michael’s sidekick, who all through the movie is this complete idiot who’s causing the downfall of the United States, was originally named Dwight, but then Michael changed it to Samuel L. Chang, using a search and replace, but that doesn’t work on misspelled words, leaving behind one Dwigt. And Dwight figured it out. Oops.

Christian: You said, “World, this is my blood, it’s red, just like yours. So love me.”

Jim: I had plans to meet a friend tonight. Which I had to cancel. But this is cool, too. I’m not a complainer.

Pam: I can’t remember the last time someone made me dinner.

Jim: So … I guess I’ll see you in (looking at watch) ten hours.
Pam: What are you going to do with your time off?
Jim: Travel.

Jim: Could it be that Agent Michael Scarn has finally found his Catherine Zeta?

Michael: I don’t understand. You want to see other people. Only other people.

Jim: Some might even say we had our first date last night.
Pam: Oh really?
Jim: Really.
Pam: Why might some say that?
Jim: Cause there was dinner, by candlelight.
Pam: Mmm hmm.
Jim: Dinner and a show, if you include Michael’s movie. And … there was dancing and fireworks. Pretty good date.
Pam: We didn’t dance.
Jim: You’re right, we didn’t dance. It was more like … swaying. But still romantic.
Pam: Swaying isn’t dancing.
Jim: At least I didn’t leave you at a high school hockey game.

Jim: Okay, we didn’t dance. And I was totally joking, anyway. I mean, it’s not really a date if the girl goes home to her fiancé. Right?