The Cover-Up (The Office)

The Cover-Up is the 24th episode of the sixth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the 124th episode overall. It originally aired on NBC on May 6, 2010.

Synopsis:

Michael Scott, regional manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton, suspects that someone in the office is secretly working a second job for a competing paper company, Prince Family Paper. He discovers a memo on Jo Bennett's (CEO of Sabre, Dunder Mifflin's parent company) Blackberry that mentions Andy Bernard, and erroneously concludes that Andy is the culprit.

Michael launches an elaborate and ultimately futile investigation to expose Andy. He enlists Dwight Schrute as his co-investigator. Together, they try various tactics including surveillance, interrogation, and even attempting to trick Andy into admitting the truth.

Meanwhile, Andy, oblivious to Michael's suspicions, is struggling with the consequences of breaking up with Erin. He spends the episode trying to win her back, much to her annoyance.

As the episode progresses, Pam Beesly reveals that the memo was about her and Jim Halpert's attempt to negotiate a raise from Jo Bennett, and that Andy was not involved. Michael realizes he's made a mistake and attempts to cover up his actions.

The episode highlights Michael's paranoia, impulsiveness, and lack of critical thinking skills, which often lead to comedic and chaotic situations within the office. It also showcases the dynamics between Michael and other employees, particularly Dwight and Andy. Finally, it touches on the romantic subplot between Andy and Erin.