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The staff is on edge. Jennifer is coming in to let David know about the future of the branch.
Regardless, David hopes to keep Tim from resigning. He wants to make Tim feel good about himself and asks him why he's thinking of leaving. Is it anything David has done? Of course not, he's a good, a great boss. And it's not because Tim asked Dawn out �???�??�?�¢?? as a friend �???�??�?�¢?? in front of everyone.
Tim's doesn't enjoy the work, he feels like he's wasting his time... he has more reasons, but how many does David want? David pulls a strop at Tim's whingeing. Why doesn't he get back to work. David doesn't want Tim spreading his bad vibes around the office.
Jennifer shows up. Everyone is on pins and needles. She's been made partner and the board has voted five to two (71.4 %, a landslide) to promote David to her job. Because of his strong emotional ties to his "family" at the Slough branch, she wants him to realize that if he takes the job, Slough will be be closed and most of the employees will lose their jobs. He realizes that. He'll take the job. Please.
Once Jennifer leaves, everyone descends on David for information. He tells them the bad news first: Neil will be taking over, Slough will be closed, and those kept on will have to relocate to Swindon to keep their jobs. On a more positive note, David's been promoted. But they're still thinking about the bad news.
Gareth is speechless. What about David and him? Gareth breaks down into tears. David reminds Gareth that he's a soldier, the squadron never dies. He offers Gareth a memento. He takes David's hole punch.
The party celebrating the end of the financial year goes on as planned. The mood is somber until David announces that he refused the promotion in order to keep the Slough branch open. Hip hip hooray for David Brent! Time to rock.
Malcolm confronts David. He heard that David didn't refuse the job, but failed the medical exam because of high blood pressure. Now why would he have "high blood pressure" on the day of the medical? Is David proposing he cheated science? David asks what's worse, cheating medical science or cheating your friends.
Tim tells Dawn he is staying; he's been made senior sales clerk. What about wanting to be a psychologist, and moving on? Moving up, Tim corrects. Moving up within an internal ladder framework or sideways to external, then up. His old job is free, she should have a word.
David has some departing words: "You grow up, you work half a century, you get a golden handshake, you rest a couple of years, and you're dead." In the end what makes it worth it? That's where he comes in. If he makes people laugh along the way, sue him. He doesn't do it so people come up to him on the street to thank him. He does it so one day someone will say, "There goes David Brent... I must remember to thank him."
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