The Temp
"Pilot"
It's his first day; he's nervous and hopes to make a good impression. It isn't his first job but every time he starts a new job even if it's scooping ice cream (like he did for two summers in high school) he's nervous. He thinks he's more nervous this time because it's a real job, its official, a grownup job in an office. He feels tired because he couldn't sleep well last night but the nervous adrenaline keeps him moving.
He goes into the office and walks to the receptionist desk. The girl working there is attractive but she looks tired and the florescent lights don't help. But then she looks up and smiles at him. When she smiles she's lighter and pretty.
"Hi can I help you?"
He walks closer to the desk, "Um yeah I'm Ryan Howard, the temp, I was told to come here…"
"Oh yeah I got the email, if you just wait a second…"
Then a whirlwind swoops at him in the human form of Michael Scott.
There's an employee meeting and he isn't sure if he should go in or since he's not official staff should he wait outside? Pam walks towards the conference room and smiles at him again, "You don't have to come in if you don't want to," then she grimaces when she hears the word downsizing murmured and adds, "actually I don't think you want to be in on this one."
He takes her advice and decides to give his mom a call.
Introductions are being made after the meeting, its normal until Dwight freaks out over his stapler being put in jell-o. He doesn't know what to make of this crazy situation when he hears a delighted muffled giggle and sees Pam hiding her smile behind her hand but her eyes laugh.
He notices how she's enjoying the exchange between Dwight and Jim that he can't help but add his own quip, "You should have put him in custard-y." Just then he was initiated with a shove from Michael, "Yes! New guy!"
He's survived the first day so far, towards the end of it Michael asks him to play along with a little fun, he agrees because he isn't stupid. He knows he should make a good impression with his boss and they should be friendly.
But he doesn't expect Michael to accuse Pam of stealing and then fire her. He sits there frozen; the thoughts that race through his mind are is this the joke? Is this for real? Why does he have to be here watching Pam's tired eyes fill with tears?
She bends her head and covers her eyes as she starts to cry, the room is silent except for her muffled sniffles. Then Michael gives the game up and says the stupidest thing, "He was in on it."
After Pam storms out of the room, part of him wants to get up and follow her and apologize and say that he wasn't in on it.
But he can't, because it's his first day, he's nervous and hopes to make a good impression.