David Brent is the manager of the Slough branch of the Wernham Hogg paper company and he and some of his staff are having a bit of a rough morning after over-imbibing the night before. When his boss Jennifer Taylor-Clark drops in she tells him that the company can no longer afford both a Swindon and a Slough branch and that one is to be merged into the other. She also tells him there are going to be redundancies. Word spreads through the office quickly but David assures everyone that their jobs are safe. Written by garykmcd

Manager David Brent hires his best friend's daughter despite the impending redundancies and throws a staff member out of the meeting for an inappropriate comment. He soon finds there is an e-mail circulating of a naked woman with his own head digitally superimposed. He's not pleased and asks Gareth to find the perpetrator. His interrogation of staff doesn't quite provide the information he's seeking. Jennifer Taylor-Clark returns to find that David has done nothing to improve efficiency. She's also at a loss to understand how he could promise no redundancies. Written by garykmcd

It's the day of the annual WernhamHogg quiz night with Dave and his friend Chris Finch, the perennial winners, teaming up yet again. Dave isn't much help and Finchey, as Dave calls him, seems to like to make up his own rules. It's also Tim's 30th birthday and he's received and interesting gift from his mother. He also gets several off-color gifts and cards from his co-workers. Written by garykmcd

It's training day at the Slough offices of Wernham Hogg and the topic of the day is how to please and satisfy their customers. Although there is a facilitator for the day, Brent thinks he is the expert on the subject and constantly interrupts. He eventually serenades the group with his guitar. Dawn has a fight with her fiancée Lee and Tim comforts her. Brent's approach doesn't quite help her however. Written by garykmcd

Tim decides there's no future for him in selling paper and decides that he going to go to university and study psychology. After staying out all night, Donna shows up for work late and after David admonishes her announces she had spent the night with someone from the office. David is also interviewing for a new secretary and given the choice of Stuart Foote and Karen Roper selects the blond Karen. Gareth gives a Health and Safety seminar, but Donna is the only employee he's invited. Chris Finch shows up at the office and they all go on their regular Wednesday outing to a nightclub, Chasers. Written by garykmcd

It's the day to announce the redundancies. Tim tells David he's leaving and is happy to do so. Dawn is actually hoping that she'll be one of the redundancies. When Jennifer Taylor-Clark arrives, she announces to David that she's been promoted and he is in line to replace her. It would mean however that the Slough branch would be reduced in size and bear the brunt of the redundancies. He accepts without hesitation. Gareth takes the news particularly hard. David becomes the hero when he subsequently announces that he's decided to turn down the job to save the branch. Written by garykmcd