Michael Scott is assigned six hours of counseling with
Toby Flenderson after he physically reprimanded (spanked) his nephew Luke in "
Nepotism", but Michael refuses to speak to Toby. One hour into their session, Toby tells Michael that the hour will not count towards Michael's punishment because Michael didn't speak at all, so Michael begins telling ridiculous stories, such as being raised by wolves and getting probed by
ALF. Toby pretends to admit defeat, then tries the common counseling method of playing games with the client to get them to open up more. Unaware he is even undergoing counseling, the method works, and Michael opens up to Toby about his personal history and relationships with people. At one point, he mentions seeing a baseball game with his stepfather where he was told that the team's manager deserved respect and how he never forgot that, and Toby makes an important discovery that Michael needs to be liked. Michael eventually realizes what is happening, gets angry at Toby, and insults and denigrates his counseling ability. Toby gives up and gives Michael the official form, allowing him to fill it out however he wants. In his haste, Michael accidentally checks off on the form that he is severely depressed and homicidal.
Gabe Lewis contacts Toby, confused by his extreme assessment of Michael. Although Michael initially blames Toby for the mishap, he turns his ire to Gabe, even making Toby laugh with his impression. Michael openly offers to return to the break room with Toby and "bang this out". At the end of the episode, they are both talking and drawing pictures.
Pam Halpert realizes that although she has her dream job of salesperson, she just might not be cut out for it after all since she makes few sales and very little money. A chance visit from a vendor gives her an idea to finagle a promotion to office administrator, hopefully for some added income. She informs Gabe of her promotion "from a few months back" and tells him she has not been paid accordingly, to which Gabe promises her he will get the missing wages if she can get all of the department heads to sign off on it. While she is busy convincing everyone that she has become the new administrator, Gabe catches on that she might be lying, and confronts her about it. Using a strategy she learned from watching
poker, she stands her ground against Gabe and becomes
de facto office administrator.
Dwight Schrute has decided to boycott the
Steamtown Mall after a shop owner refuses to serve him, going so far as to cancel orders to businesses there, including that of the other salesmen.
Jim Halpert and the rest of the office convince Dwight to get revenge on the shop owner by making Dwight appear to be high-class, and then having him refuse to buy from the shop, a scheme the office references from the movie
Pretty Woman. Using tips from the rest of the office to make himself appear more sophisticated, Dwight, with Jim and
Andy Bernard, return to the shop. To their surprise, the shop owner immediately recognizes Dwight even in his new attire, and explains that he did not serve him before because he was frightened by Dwight's blood-soaked hands (actually beet juice). Dwight, flustered from the truth of the situation being revealed to him, stumbles over his words before finally saying the line he had come all the way there to say, "You made a big mistake. Huge!" The group leaves somewhat embarrassed, but not before Dwight buys what he came for: a pewter wizard statuette holding a crystal ball. ==Production==