This is a tough economy we live in. Things cost more. People pay for less. Everyone needs to make sacrifices. Unless, you’re the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin. Then, you’ve got a surplus of $4,300 and you’ve gotta spend it quick. Now what do you spend it on?

Oscar wisely suggests a copier. A great idea, until Michael announces it to the entire office and Pam interjects with her own suggestion of new chairs. Things get interesting as the office takes sides. Especially when Jim opts for the copier. Everyone is surprised as they were sure he was the pantless one in the relationship.  Pam isn’t too pleased with his decision either.

“You’re on very dangerous ground.”

Meanwhile Coward and Andy start going over some frustrating details of the ceremony. Things like strange instructions on where to walk, trenches as restrooms, and the stank of manure masking the stank of animal blood. Gradually, we see Coward getting more an more angry with Dwight. He’s trying to ruin everything, and somehow she didn’t see this coming. Right…

The feud between Coward and Dwight rages on throughout the episode, as Andy’s rage is continuously put to the test. He needs this to work, or else his “deposit” is going to wasted and he may just kill everyone if that happens.

Pam tries to explain why she wants the chairs to Michael. He was supposed to give her his old chair when he got a new one, but that never happened. Oscar interrupts the conversation and invites Michael out to lunch with him. Michael, being the desperate sap he is, grabs opportunity by the hand. Jim puts on a super happy face to join in and it becomes a real party. So they’re off, leaving Pam to think about what she’s gotten herself into. But Pam isn’t going down without a fight. It’s on.

The three new best buds get back from lunch, laughing up a riot, probably over something neither Jim or Oscar would find funny, ever. Jim has brought some Tiramisu back as a no-hard-feelings sort of gift. Pam ain’t having it. She’s all gussied up and ready for her turn with Michael. Using her wily womanly ways (say that five times fast), she compliments Michael and flirts with him in order to present her side of the argument. It’s all pretty embarrassingly low, albeit valid. However, her argument is finally put to the test as she goes to make some copies. Jim watches on, but eventually she makes it happen.

Everyone joins in on the brown nosing, and Michael sucks it all up. It fulfills his wildest dreams to be the center of the office and everyone seemingly enjoys it.

At Schrute Farms, Dwight presents the area that the horrifying couple will finally tie the knot. Dwight suggests that Andy pose as Cowards father and walk her down the isle, while Dwight takes Andy’s position as they are wed by a Pastor that only speaks Deutsch. Coward loves everything, right down to the part where Dwight plays the groom and places a twine ring on her finger.

Hank, the office security guard, is invited up by Michael. Michael uses Hank as an impartial judge to figure out what to do. Whatever he decides will be the final decision. Everyone watches on as Hank takes in both arguments, then tests out the objects in question. Taking his time, he concludes that he needs to take a look at the copier again. Michael dismisses him. He can’t be bothered.

Angela takes Dwight aside and finally tells him that she made a mistake in picking Andy. Dwight agrees and that’s why he has taken care of everything. The minister was real. They both said “I do.” And Andy wasn’t signing a receipt, he was signing a marriage certificate as a witness to the faux-faux ceremony. He has deceived her again. Angela is disgusted and throws his twine ring back in his face.

Inside Michael’s office, he has called David Wallace and tries to get his opinion, while he chokes on some Tiramisu. David tells him to return the surplus and reveals that if he does, Michael will get 15% of it in return. Oh boy. The only thing worse than Michael making a decision between two equal things is Michael presented with a decision of spending money. And now there’s a third, far more appealing choice thrown into the mix. He can take sides or take the money and run. Finally, he comes to a decision and tells the office they will get neither, because they are spoiled and throw away perfectly good Tiramisu. Oscar catches on to the fact that Michael has found out about the bonus. Obviously, the rest of the office is not happy.

Urkelnomically correct.

The Andy-Angela-Dwight situation is lastly explored when Angela makes out with Andy (and his tuna filled mouth) in front of the entire office and especially Dwight. Then, she is off to take care of a legal issue. Will Angela start treating Andy like a true future spouse? Will she be seen as human again, in my eyes? Is Andy finally going to use his deposit the way he wants? Will Dwight do something even more drastic to win Angela back?

The main players in the copier-chair debacle come together in Michael’s office and force him to make a decision. Instead, Michael lays it on them. Either they come to an agreement or he takes the money. He leaves them to their thoughts, thinking that they will never agree and he will be justified in taking the bonus. His plans are diminished a couple seconds later as Pam and Oscar reach a decision and go with the chairs. Oscar would rather have something than nothing at all. Michael is surprised and not pleased. As usual, he has leaped before he looked.

The strangest part of all of this is that Oscar and Pam, two people who were seen as the weakest, most timid characters in the beginning of the series, are now the leaders of pretty serious decision. Even though Pam is seen as the strong one in this decision, and typically the man of her relationship with Jim, Jim lays down the truth. She got her way, now she can live with the consequences of her decision. She’ll make his copies from now on.

I thought this episode was pretty fantastic. There’s a lot of hilarity. The dynamic and tension between Oscar, Jim and Pam is pretty great and satisfying. Finally, we get some change with Angela, and hopefully things are on the up with how her character is portrayed. Five out of five Dwigt Foreheads.