1. Oh.
Copy !req
2. What the hell?
Copy !req
3. Somebody's getting fired over this shit.
Copy !req
4. HR case number 7-dash-3.
Copy !req
5. Or maybe it's 4.
Copy !req
6. In the interest of providing
my summary of today's event
Copy !req
7. as swiftly and as detailed as possible,
Copy !req
8. I have not, as of yet, double-checked
with my previous case file numbers.
Copy !req
9. At approximately 1100 hours today,
Copy !req
10. an incident occurred
that can only be described
Copy !req
11. as a spontaneous fit of hysteria.
Copy !req
12. This convulsive wave of emotions
Copy !req
13. seized the office for exactly
three and a half minutes
Copy !req
14. before finally subsiding.
Copy !req
15. I'm sorry, guys. I'm done.
Copy !req
16. It's hard to pinpoint
what spurred today's events.
Copy !req
17. Suffice it to say it is
but one of many erratic behaviors
Copy !req
18. that have arisen here in the office
over the past few months.
Copy !req
19. These include, but are not limited to,
chatter around the water cooler,
Copy !req
20. spells of boisterous laughter,
Copy !req
21. high-fives, low-fives,
Copy !req
22. and, in one instance, a shoulder pat.
Copy !req
23. Three weeks ago,
I was witness to a non-platonic hug.
Copy !req
24. Dear listener, I believe these events
Copy !req
25. are all somehow related to the emotional
display that occurred here today.
Copy !req
26. Not only that, but their timeline
seems inextricably linked
Copy !req
27. to the hiring of one employee.
Copy !req
28. A Carol Daphne Kohl.
Copy !req
29. Single. Childless.
Copy !req
30. Emergency contact,
Bernard and Pauline Kohl.
Copy !req
31. I believe lurking behind Carol…
Copy !req
32. Hi, I'm Carol.
Copy !req
33. Spiffy tie you got there, Bill.
Copy !req
34. Oh, no! Shit. Shit. Shoot.
Copy !req
35. She could destroy us.
Copy !req
36. On the surface, Ms. Kohl
seems to be the perfect employee.
Copy !req
37. Her docile demeanor emanates a certain
je ne sais quoi of dependability,
Copy !req
38. and one would think her shyness
would keep her in line with the others.
Copy !req
39. But beneath her benign presentation
lies a dangerous rebellious streak,
Copy !req
40. one I fear has already begun
to infect the office.
Copy !req
41. I first noticed Miss Kohl's behavior
on the Tuesday of April 7th.
Copy !req
42. Sarah.
Copy !req
43. Vanessa.
Copy !req
44. Francine.
Copy !req
45. Names are designations of who we are.
Copy !req
46. When recalled,
they create a measure of familiarity.
Copy !req
47. When your name is spoken,
a type of intimacy is created.
Copy !req
48. You are no longer
just a stranger or coworker,
Copy !req
49. you are now an acquaintance
with the possibility of more.
Copy !req
50. - Tim.
Copy !req
51. Joe.
Copy !req
52. Alyssa. James. Cathy.
Copy !req
53. This was ultimately followed
by an incident
Copy !req
54. where Miss Kohl led eight other members
of the office onto the roof
Copy !req
55. for an unsolicited wake
for a one David Douglas Seaver.
Copy !req
56. The incident resulted in the time theft of
Copy !req
57. eight minutes and 43 seconds.
Copy !req
58. Since then, the antics
of Miss Kohl have only become more brazen.
Copy !req
59. On April 15th, Miss Kohl set about
decorating her workspace,
Copy !req
60. using treasured possessions
to inject personality
Copy !req
61. in and around her desk.
Copy !req
62. Personally, I do not believe
the office is an appropriate place
Copy !req
63. to display your financial dependents,
Copy !req
64. but I understand the general sentiment.
Copy !req
65. I, on the other hand,
have no tolerance for such kitsch,
Copy !req
66. particularly Miss Kohl's collection
of ceramic mice.
Copy !req
67. Slowly but surely, the contagion
spread among the rank and file.
Copy !req
68. A rash of tchotchkes, photographs,
Copy !req
69. constellations of personal artifacts
all on display.
Copy !req
70. The faint flickering of private lives
Copy !req
71. here… in our office.
Copy !req
72. Just like that,
Copy !req
73. the professionalism this office
had come to so embody was gone.
Copy !req
74. Miss Kohl had altered it,
perhaps irrevocably.
Copy !req
75. Brief aside, Miss Kohl requisitioned
a tier-one company vehicle
Copy !req
76. in the commission of a work-related matter
several weeks ago.
Copy !req
77. Since then, she has used said vehicle
almost daily for personal matters.
Copy !req
78. Unacceptable.
Copy !req
79. Fortunately for the office, I managed
to get the drop on her next move.
Copy !req
80. An unauthorized lunch swap.
Copy !req
81. Social lunches,
Copy !req
82. particularly those involving swapping,
trading, or pot-lucking
Copy !req
83. are a gateway to camaraderie.
Copy !req
84. When one finds out another also
likes tomatoes in their pesto pasta,
Copy !req
85. it forges an understanding,
Copy !req
86. an understanding that forms a bridge
Copy !req
87. that invariably leads to friendship.
Copy !req
88. Now, because of tomatoes,
Copy !req
89. you have someone
to spend coffee breaks with
Copy !req
90. and tell your secrets to.
Copy !req
91. Even a simple potato frittata
Copy !req
92. could make someone feel more loyal
to their new coworker
Copy !req
93. than to their duties.
Copy !req
94. But, gentle listener,
this is only the beginning.
Copy !req
95. Miss Kohl's friendship offensive
found its first victims
Copy !req
96. in two previously-reliable employees,
Copy !req
97. beginning with one Donna Shaw.
Copy !req
98. African-American, divorced, five children,
Copy !req
99. astigmatism in both eyes,
Copy !req
100. Miss Shaw is what we call
in Human Resources "an ideal employee."
Copy !req
101. Dependable, task-oriented,
Copy !req
102. thrives on the sense of purpose
work provides,
Copy !req
103. or at least she did.
Copy !req
104. Precisely what led
this paragon of diligence
Copy !req
105. - to ally with Miss Kohl cannot be known.
Copy !req
106. But it is a great loss to our cause.
Copy !req
107. C'est la vie.
Copy !req
108. The third member of this insurrectionary
triumvirate is something of an enigma.
Copy !req
109. On the surface, Luis Felipe Jacinto
seemed like any adequate employee.
Copy !req
110. Habitually on-time, hard-working,
by all accounts entirely unremarkable.
Copy !req
111. But as I looked closer,
Copy !req
112. I began to observe in him an inexplicable
and frankly unsettling joie de vivre,
Copy !req
113. an effervescent lust for life
that the routine and rigor of the office
Copy !req
114. had perhaps suppressed,
Copy !req
115. only for Miss Kohl to draw it out.
Copy !req
116. I can't really sing along, so sometimes
I just accompany her with my recorder.
Copy !req
117. You can play Whitney Houston
on a recorder?
Copy !req
118. I brought it to a concert once
but was too afraid to play it.
Copy !req
119. Over time,
Copy !req
120. these three have managed to foment
a sense of unity among the workforce
Copy !req
121. through a variety
of disruptive activities.
Copy !req
122. The creation of a lunchtime Spanish club.
Copy !req
123. Buenos días. Me llamo Donna.
Copy !req
124. Hola, Donna.
Copy !req
125. Weekly tanning sessions.
Copy !req
126. Multiple instances
in which Miss Kohl played matchmaker,
Copy !req
127. resulting in several couplings
and at least one polyamorous quad.
Copy !req
128. - The arrival of a stray dog.
Copy !req
129. Check it out!
This little guy followed us in!
Copy !req
130. Anybody want to name him?
Copy !req
131. Amaya?
Copy !req
132. Leonard? Suzanne?
Copy !req
133. And the gradual individualization
of the Terrys.
Copy !req
134. - Terry B.
- Thank you, Carol.
Copy !req
135. - Terry I.
- I appreciate it, Carol.
Copy !req
136. - Terry P.
- Thanks, Carol.
Copy !req
137. - Terry F.
- Danke schoen, Carol.
Copy !req
138. - Terry C.
- Much obliged, Carol.
Copy !req
139. All of which leads me to Miss Kohl's
latest and most consequential disruption,
Copy !req
140. which I believe accounts for
the other day's upsetting disturbance.
Copy !req
141. I am of course speaking of—
Copy !req
142. - Sorry to bother.
- What's going on?
Copy !req
143. - We were wondering about your report.
- Why isn't it ready?
Copy !req
144. It should be done. You've had two days.
Copy !req
145. These investigations take time.
Copy !req
146. - I'm going as fast as I can.
Very well.
Copy !req
147. Don't forget to keep us in the loop, okay?
Copy !req
148. I want an email summarizing everything.
Copy !req
149. This is really a shame.
Copy !req
150. Rather disappointing.
Copy !req
151. I'm thinking about
finally getting some new insoles.
Copy !req
152. Something with arch support.
Copy !req
153. Probably with some heel protection
for walking on concrete.
Copy !req
154. Something in the gel family,
but not too soft.
Copy !req
155. - Something on the firmer—
- Bernard.
Copy !req
156. Oh.
Copy !req
157. Pauline.
- Okay.
Copy !req
158. You've both been
by my side over the years and—
Copy !req
159. Oh my God! How wonderful!
Copy !req
160. Of course, Michael! Of course!
Copy !req
161. And with Keppler's gravitational pull
Copy !req
162. slowing Earth's rotation,
Copy !req
163. get ready for 19-hour days
and 19-hour nights.
Copy !req
164. I'm gonna eat you up!
Copy !req
165. Yes, I am. Eat you right up. Ay!
Copy !req
166. No scratchies, Pablo.
Copy !req
167. No scratchies.
Copy !req
168. As I was saying,
Copy !req
169. the previously-outlined events
Copy !req
170. have led me to Miss Kohl's
latest and most volatile disruption,
Copy !req
171. which I believe accounts
for this week's upsetting disturbance…
Copy !req
172. Applebee's.
Copy !req
173. I am of course referring to Applebee's.
Copy !req
174. Come on, Luis. It's time to go.
Copy !req
175. Wait, just one more number.
Copy !req
176. Seven. Nine.
Copy !req
177. That's two numbers.
Copy !req
178. It's a big number, Donna.
Copy !req
179. - Four. Eight.
Copy !req
180. - Heading home?
Trying to. Luis is stalling.
Copy !req
181. Yeah. I hate leaving too.
Copy !req
182. Shh.
You're making me lose my place.
Copy !req
183. Four and zero.
Copy !req
184. $794,840.
Copy !req
185. Why is this part always so hard?
Copy !req
186. It's just how it is.
Your work will be here tomorrow.
Copy !req
187. You know, we don't have to.
Copy !req
188. - What?
- I mean, we can, like, hang out.
Copy !req
189. Remember that night with David?
Copy !req
190. Oh, that was so much fun.
Copy !req
191. We were dragging around a dead body
and you had a nervous breakdown.
Copy !req
192. And not to mention,
my trunk is still fucked.
Copy !req
193. But, like, without all that.
Copy !req
194. No dead body?
Copy !req
195. No dead body.
Copy !req
196. Hmm.
Copy !req
197. Drinks?
Copy !req
198. At a bar? Lord, no.
Copy !req
199. I'd rather be in bed.
Copy !req
200. Huh. Too many crazies
letting it all hang every which way.
Copy !req
201. - Makes it impossible to do anything.
- Yeah.
Copy !req
202. If only there was a place
that was like the office.
Copy !req
203. Quiet, free of all that stuff out there.
Copy !req
204. Guys, guys, I know a place.
Copy !req
205. - A home away from home.
Copy !req
206. A casual spot,
decorated with unique flair,
Copy !req
207. filled with comfortable seats
and bottomless drinks.
Copy !req
208. And best of all—
Copy !req
209. Is it close? I'm only going if it's close.
Copy !req
210. Oh, it's in the neighborhood.
Copy !req
211. Well, then, lead the way.
Copy !req
212. How fun!
Copy !req
213. Hey! Can I come too?
Copy !req
214. That kind of sounds like fun.
Copy !req
215. Um… Sure.
Copy !req
216. Yeah.
Copy !req
217. Great. I'll pack my stuff.
Copy !req
218. I swear to God,
he better not end up in my trunk.
Copy !req
219. Damn, Carol.
Copy !req
220. If I knew you
could make an Appletini like this,
Copy !req
221. we would have been
doing this from the start.
Copy !req
222. What can I say?
Copy !req
223. I don't know.
Copy !req
224. Girl's got a gift.
Copy !req
225. Carol's blasted.
Copy !req
226. We should do this more often.
Copy !req
227. Yeah! Like, every week.
Copy !req
228. I'm down.
Copy !req
229. I love you guys.
Copy !req
230. Yup.
Copy !req
231. Sounds like a plan.
Copy !req
232. It's called "Applebee's."
Copy !req
233. Applebee's? Wait, but aren't they…?
Copy !req
234. Terrys!
Copy !req
235. Have I met them?
Copy !req
236. Chloe!
Copy !req
237. Carol!
Copy !req
238. Oh, sorry. I was already here.
I just stepped out to—
Copy !req
239. Patrick!
Copy !req
240. Andrew!
Copy !req
241. Heather! Take over.
Copy !req
242. My arms are getting tired.
Copy !req
243. Next question.
Copy !req
244. "What is a group of turkeys called?"
Copy !req
245. Ah, Nine-to-fivers.
I see you trying to cheat.
Copy !req
246. Sit your ass back down.
Copy !req
247. Who likes tacos?
Copy !req
248. Cheers.
Copy !req
249. To happy hour.
Copy !req
250. To happy hour.
Copy !req
251. Dear listener, I must apologize
for what you are about to hear.
Copy !req
252. You must believe me when I say
I entered into this investigation
Copy !req
253. with the purest of intentions,
Copy !req
254. to identify an existential threat
to our office and root it out.
Copy !req
255. In this, I have failed.
Copy !req
256. When I first learned
of the quote-unquote "happy hour,"
Copy !req
257. I could scarcely believe it.
Copy !req
258. What time are you going?
Right after work.
Copy !req
259. I can't wait.
Copy !req
260. So I was determined
to see it with my own eyes.
Copy !req
261. Dear listener, it's difficult
to describe what I found there.
Copy !req
262. On the surface,
Copy !req
263. just a group of coworkers enjoying
themselves at a casual bar and grill,
Copy !req
264. but it was more than that.
Copy !req
265. That place had a feeling.
Copy !req
266. A strength.
Copy !req
267. If the office was to be saved,
it had to be stopped.
Copy !req
268. HR!
Copy !req
269. But that's not what happened.
Copy !req
270. My initial plan was to blend in.
Copy !req
271. I quickly found that to be impossible.
Copy !req
272. In the office, I found it easy
to remain anonymous,
Copy !req
273. another cog
in the machine of The Distraction.
Copy !req
274. But here in this strange Elysium
of Miss Kohl's creation,
Copy !req
275. everyone had a name.
Copy !req
276. Everyone was known.
Copy !req
277. Everyone was family.
Copy !req
278. In time,
despite all my grand designs of sabotage,
Copy !req
279. I was too.
Copy !req
280. I told myself I was getting to know
these people for the investigation.
Copy !req
281. Playing bingo for the investigation.
Copy !req
282. Bingo! Hot damn! I got bingo!
Copy !req
283. Singing karaoke for the investigation.
Copy !req
284. In truth, I'd succumbed
to the very virus I'd set out to destroy,
Copy !req
285. the virus that now threatens
to destroy our precious Distraction…
Copy !req
286. Attachment.
Copy !req
287. - I think we have a problem here.
- Where is that goddamn report?
Copy !req
288. - We really need that report.
- I'm almost done.
Copy !req
289. Do you even understand
what's at stake here?
Copy !req
290. I want it on my desk now!
- Of course.
Copy !req
291. This reflects poorly on everyone.
Copy !req
292. You are fucking up big-time.
Copy !req
293. Fuckin' up.
Copy !req
294. It had been two weeks since the last
happy hour when the disturbance occurred.
Copy !req
295. Following my investigation,
Copy !req
296. I have determined
that the spontaneous fit of hysteria
Copy !req
297. that gripped our office several days ago
Copy !req
298. was in fact not spontaneous but triggered.
Copy !req
299. Triggered by emotional attachments
formed among the people of this office.
Copy !req
300. What began with Miss Kohl learning
the names of her coworkers
Copy !req
301. has since evolved
into a kind of community.
Copy !req
302. A community of people
who care for each other,
Copy !req
303. who have chosen to care for each other,
Copy !req
304. in spite of the pain that might entail,
given the current circumstances.
Copy !req
305. Now, in the middle of the day,
when an employee looks at her coworker,
Copy !req
306. she doesn't see
an Accounts Receivable clerk.
Copy !req
307. She sees Bruce.
Copy !req
308. Or Casey.
Copy !req
309. Or Amanda.
Copy !req
310. Not just coworkers, but friends.
Copy !req
311. Friends she knows she will
one day very soon lose forever.
Copy !req
312. These fits of emotion
will only get worse
Copy !req
313. as the months and weeks count down,
Copy !req
314. setting the stage for the complete
implosion of The Distraction.
Copy !req
315. Our seal against the sentimental chaos
of the outside world has shattered,
Copy !req
316. our vital routine arrested.
Copy !req
317. Keppler's song has breached
these precious walls,
Copy !req
318. and now not even
the wail of the copier can drown it out.
Copy !req
319. What follows is grief and madness,
Copy !req
320. and it is without question
that the blame for this
Copy !req
321. lies at the very feet of one—
Copy !req
322. - Hi.
- Hi.
Copy !req
323. Sorry.
Copy !req
324. I was just wondering
if you're coming to happy hour tonight.
Copy !req
325. Um…
Copy !req
326. No. Not tonight.
Copy !req
327. Oh, okay. Well, we missed you
the last couple weeks.
Copy !req
328. Okay. Good night, Kathleen.
Copy !req
329. What did you call me?
Copy !req
330. Kathleen.
Copy !req
331. That's your name, right?
Copy !req
332. Oh, no! Did I get it wrong?
Copy !req
333. No, you didn't.
Copy !req
334. Oh, okay.
Copy !req
335. Well, see you tomorrow.
Copy !req
336. This concludes HR case number 7-dash…
Copy !req
337. This concludes the investigation.
Copy !req
338. Note to listener,
Copy !req
339. my determination
regarding employee Carol Daphne Kohl
Copy !req
340. is supplemented here in a written report.
Copy !req
341. So, what do you say, Carol?
Copy !req
342. This is nice.
Copy !req
343. But it is.
Copy !req
344. Really.
Copy !req
345. Is anyone missing keys for a Honda?
Copy !req
346. Thank you.
Copy !req
347. I feel like most people
don't even notice I'm wearing earrings.
Copy !req
348. Good night, Kathleen.
Copy !req