The phone rang. "Jim Halpert," he answered.
"Hey! Jim!" said the person on the other end of the line.
"Michael?" Jim said hesitantly.
"Got it in one," said Michael.
"What can I do for you?"
"You can pack your things and head on back out to Scranton, that's what you can do for me."
Jim laughed in disbelief. He saw Karen listening in on the conversation and raised his hands in a clueless gesture.
"I can't…I can't just come back," he said, lowering his voice as a look of deep interest came on Karen's face. "You know that."
"Oh-ho-ho, I beg to differ," said Michael. "You certainly can. It'll be fine! I talked to Pam for you."
Jim's eyes widened.
"Hello?" said Michael. "Hello? Jim? You still there?"
"Yeah," he said uncertainly. "Yeah, but I…." He caught Karen's eye and twisted his face into a horrified expression. "Help," he mouthed.
She mimed answering the phone and mouthed back, "Tell him you have another call."
"I…I've got another call coming in, uh…Michael," said Jim. "Hey, I'll…I'll get back to you…later…when I have, uh…I'd really better get this now. Bye."
He hung up, then swiveled around to face Karen. "Thanks."
"What was that all about?" she asked.
"I have no idea," he said.
"That was a lie," Jim said to the camera later. "But I wish it weren't."
"Scranton branch sounds screwier all the time," Karen told the camera. "I bet Jim's glad he's out of that nut factory."
Dwight walked into Michael's office to find him staring at the phone receiver in his hand. The dial tone was sounding.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"He hung up on me," said Michael.
"Who?"
"On me!" repeated Michael.
"Who hung up on you?" asked Dwight.
"Jim," said Michael.
"Jim," said Dwight. His jaw tightened. "Jim Halpert?"
"I don't believe it," said Michael.
"If you'll pardon my saying so, sir, I would believe anything of Jim Halpert. Anything at all."
"Wow," said Michael.
"Hang up the phone, sir," said Dwight. "In fact, slam it. Show him that a Dunder Mifflin regional manager is not someone you hang up on."
Michael looked up. "How is that going to show him anything? He's not even on the phone anymore."
"Good point," said Dwight. "Tell you what. Give him a call back."
"Uh-huh…."
"Then slam the phone down."
"I don't know," said Michael.
"I'll do it for you," said Dwight.
Michael shrugged.
"Dunder Mifflin," Jim said. He jumped and held the phone away from his ear.
"What was that?" Karen asked.
"I have no idea…."
"I doubt that will teach him his lesson. I doubt anything could teach Jim Halpert any kind of lesson. He has closed himself off to all learning. Still, I would do it again. I'd do it a couple times…if I thought it had any chance of taking. Yes. I would do it again. No problem."
Dwight smiled.
"That's it," said Jim, dropping the receiver back on the cradle. "I'm not taking any more calls today."