In the final season of The Office, Pam and Jim Halpert's marriage has been on the rocks. Jim, without Pam's knowledge or consent, started a sports company in Philadelphia—and he's been splitting his time between his new company and Dunder Mifflin. Pam has been left to raise their two children on her own. Their communication erodes, and their future together seems uncertain.

In the episode "Paper Airplanes," Jim and Pam finally begin marriage counseling. Their counselor encourages them to affirm their appreciation for each other and to see difficult things in their relationship as an "opportunity."

At the end of the episode, as Jim prepares to leave for Philly, he kneels down at Pam's desk and says to her, "You know, this was really weird and really hard, but I think we're making progress. So, I'm really sorry that I have to go. Let's keep at this, okay?" "Okay," says Pam, with hesitation and uncertainty.

Jim walks towards the office entrance and looks back, hoping Pam will look at him as he leaves. But she doesn't, so he walks out. After he leaves, Pam finally looks back, but Jim is gone. Looking sad and conflicted, she just stares at her computer screen. Then she notices that Jim has left behind his umbrella. She grabs it and runs down to the parking lot, as Jim loads his luggage into a taxi.

Just before he closes the cab door, Pam cries out, "Jim!" Seeing the umbrella in her hand, he gets out of the cab, smiles, and says, "Thanks." "Alright, have a good trip," says Pam. They share a brief hug and he gives her a kiss on the cheek. Pam walks away, but Jim chases her and then gently grabs her arm, pulling her back to himself. He holds her hands and says, "Honey, I …"

After a long pause, Jim embraces her. But she is reluctant to embrace him, her hands hanging by her side. Several seconds later, a voice reads, "Love suffers long and is kind. It is not proud." The scene flashes back to their wedding day and we see Jim and Pam's faces glowing as a Scripture reader proclaims, "It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love." The scene cuts back to the parking lot, and Pam, recalling these words and the vows she made, embraces Jim. After a long and passionate kiss, they look at each other and say at the same time, "I love you."