The Grown-Ups – Mad Men Episode Summary 3.12

Synopsis:  Pete Campbell learns that he has been passed over for the position of Senior Vice President in charge of account services, and confides in Harry Crane about it only to be interrupted by their colleagues convening in Harry’s office to watch news of the assassination of President Kennedy.  Roger Sterling is getting grief from her spoiled brat of a daughter who threatens to cancel her wedding after learning that his new wife will be attending it.  Little did she know that barely anyone would show up given that her wedding occurs the very next day after the assassination of the president of the United States.  There were a still a few who decided to come to the wedding, and this included Henry Francis whom Betty Draper was secretly thrilled to see despite Don Draper trying to make amends by trying to be the perfect husband and father.

Episode Summary: Lane Pryce calls Pete Campbell in his office to inform him that the position of Senior Vice President in charge of account services will be given to Ken Cosgrove leaving him to only be the head of account management.  This is a shock to Pete who believes that his billings are on par with Ken’s.  Unfortunately for him, Ken was able to edge him out with his knack for making clients feel as if they do not have any needs, while Pete only makes them feel that the agency has met their needs.  Pete takes Lane’s decision amicably, but soon decides to take the day off. Continue reading...

Margaret Sterling receives an expensive Van Cleef jewelry from Jane Siegel-Sterling as a gift for her wedding, and instead of being grateful the young woman becomes upset with Jane attending her wedding.   She becomes even more upset when her mother does not try to appease her.  With Roger Sterling paying for the grand wedding of his daughter, Mona believes that the least Margaret can do is to allow her father to bring his new wife to her wedding.  Margaret gives her father a call, and threatens to cancel the wedding, but Roger and Mona has had enough that they call the bluff and agrees to have the wedding canceled.  Seeing that her threats no longer work, Margaret is left with no other choice, but to put aside her childish pettiness, and decides to push through with the wedding.  Roger reprimands Jane for meeting with Margaret knowing that his daughter does not want anything to do with her, and she in turn becomes upset after learning that her efforts to make amends with Roger’s family failed miserably.

Trudy is surprised to see Pete at home, and learns that her husband has been passed over for a position he deserves.  Pete is convinced that he is going to be fired and has considered the idea of calling Duck Phillips, but Trudy does not believe this is the case and advises against leaving Sterling Cooper.  Pete returns to work the next day, and confides in Harry Crane who has already heard about Ken’s promotion.  Both men agree that what has been done to Pete cannot be good, but there really isn’t anything that can be done even Harry who has been given his own department believes that his work goes unnoticed despite the value he has added to the company.

Peggy Olson receives a call from Duck asking her to meet him at his hotel room at the Elysee, and after some urging Peggy agrees to skip work to be with him.  Duck hears news of the assassination attempt on President Kennedy, but loses interest when Peggy arrives.  The news, however, is not lost on the employees of Sterling Cooper as they barge in the private meeting between Pete and Harry to watch news of the assassination.  Don Draper returns to his office floor after having complained to Bert Cooper of Lane’s rejection of his decision to hire a new creative art director only to find ringing phones unanswered as all convene to listen to news about the president’s condition.  All watch intently as they wait for news including Betty Draper who with her housekeeper is brought to tears at hearing that President Kennedy has passed away.  Although Peggy’s arrival distracted him from the disturbing news he was watching before she arrived, Duck is anxious to hear the rest of it.  He turns on the television set, and hears from Walter Cronkite official word that President Kennedy died at 1:00 p.m. Central Standard Time.  All are affected by the news and grieves for the president and his wife except for Margaret who laments that the death of the president will ruin her wedding.

Don returns home and finds his children alone watching the news.  Betty, too upset with it, has gone to bed.  Don may not be a good husband, but he is a good father.  Knowing that his children must find the assassination of the president disconcerting, he speaks to his children to let them know that everything will be okay.  The next morning, Don finds Betty with the kids in front of the TV still watching the news.  He asks her to get ready for they have a wedding to attend to, but Betty is unsure if there will still be one given that the whole country is in mourning.  Pete shares the same thoughts as Betty, and manages to convince his wife not to attend the wedding for there are things more important than business.

Apparently, many people shared the same thoughts for only few decided to attend the wedding.  Moreover, the waiters along with the wedding cake are nowhere in sight.  There is, however, one person that Betty caught sight of, and it is Henry Francis.  Betty finds herself disappointed at seeing a lovely young woman come up to greet him, and is relieved to learn that she is only Henry’s daughter.  There are some including Bert and Jane who have come to the wedding, but have decided to stay in the kitchen to watch the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald.  Roger finds his new wife in the kitchen, but refuses to return to the dining hall to be with him as he toasts to his daughter’s marriage.  Roger takes the stage and gives a touching speech to the newly weds.  The father and the bride take the dance floor, and so do some of the guests including Don and Betty.  Don notices that Betty is distracted, and attributes it to her worries about the assassination.  She gives her a kiss on the lips, but Betty feebly returns it.  Little did he know that her distraction stems from Henry staring at her so conspicuously that his daughter could not help but ask him about it.  He, of course, denies it.  The disaster of a wedding is finally over, and Roger carries his drunken wife to bed.  He finds himself giving Joan a call to confide in her his ordeal.

Pete and Trudy stay at home to watch the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, and both agreed that Pete should not go to work the next day.  Trudy has had a change of heart about Sterling Cooper, and has come to a realization that the agency has undervalued her husband.  She believes that Pete should start gathering his clients for she is certain that they will follow him if he chooses to leave Sterling Cooper.

The assassination of the president continues to hang over everyone especially Betty who continues to sit in front of the TV to watch the news, and becomes witness to the assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald.  Her screams prompted Don to rush to her, but Don curiously finds his attempt to comfort his wife being rejected.  Later, he learns that his wife has decided to go out for a drive to clear her head unaware that the woman has gone to meet Henry.  Henry joins Betty in her car, and makes a marriage proposal.  The man believes that he can make her happy, and although Betty does not accept his proposal just yet the two passionately kiss.  Betty returns home, and learns that her kids are with her friend Francine.  With the house all to themselves, she takes the opportunity to tell Don that she does not love him anymore, but the man refuses to believe this.  Although he does not show it in front of his wife, he finds Betty’s statement alarming and so disturbing that he decides to go to work instead even though the office is closed.

Don arrives at a deserted Sterling Cooper, and finds Peggy intently typing on her typewriter.  Peggy is concerned about their Aqua Net commercial, one that features couples in a convertible car much like the one the late President had at the motorcade.  Like Don, Peggy came to the office to escape, but she was merely escaping the drama surrounding the assassination of the president while Don was evading the collapse of his marriage.

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The Gypsy and the Hobo – Mad Men Episode Summary 3.11

Synopsis: On the day Don Draper and Suzanne Farrell were supposed to spend time together as a real couple, Don arrives home only to find that his wife and kids have returned earlier than planned.  Moreover, Betty reveals that she has uncovered his deep, dark secret.  Meanwhile, the women from Roger’s past have come to haunt him with the re-emergence of Annabelle Mathis and Joan Holloway.  Both women want something from Roger, but he is only willing to help one of them.

Episode Summary: Annabelle Mathis, a woman Roger Sterling had a history with, is now running Caldecott Farms having inherited it back from her family following the death of her husband.  She has come to Sterling Cooper to ask for their help after the movie The Misfits exposed how horses were used to make dog food.  The outrage following the movie proved to be a public relations nightmare that significantly affected the company’s sales that even Caldecott Farms’ ad agency Benton & Bowles decided to sever their relationship with the troubled company.  Mrs. Mathis is looking for a new ad agency that will be able to invent a more acceptable name for horsemeat, one that will present to her the best idea to revive the company’s reputation without changing its name or product. Continue reading...

After learning that he does not have a future as a surgeon, Greg Harris decides to change specializations and enlists the help of his wife in nailing his interview.  Joan Holloway conducts a practice interview, and learns that her husband’s choice to become a psychiatrist is rooted to his father’s nervous breakdown that resulted to his mother running away.  His father soon got over his mental condition thanks to the help of a psychiatrist.  Joan advises her husband to answer his interviewer the same way he answered her for it is a story so personal, which is exactly what psychiatry is.

Betty and William meet with Mr. Milton, their father’s lawyer, to discuss their inheritance.  William is infuriated at their father for leaving their ancestral house to both of them making it difficult for him to get sole ownership of the house if he wanted to for it would require buying out Betty’s share that he would never be able to afford.  Meanwhile, Betty speaks to Mr. Milton in confidence to ask advise on how to deal with Don having learned of his past.  Mr. Milton advises that she could ask for a divorce, which would require her to prove in the court of law that Don committed adultery, while if Don asks the divorce Betty will not get a penny, and she may lose custody of the kids.  Mr. Milton’s other advice is for Betty to return home, and give her marriage another shot.

Roger receives a call from Joan, and unlike his meeting with Annabelle he finds her re-emergence a pleasant surprise even though the woman has called only to ask his help in finding a job.  Roger offers her a job at Sterling Cooper, but Joan would not want to go back because she had already been replaced, and claims to be earning more working at a department store than as a secretary.  One evening, Roger fulfills the date he was forced to make with Annabelle.  The woman would like to reminisce about the time when they were together, and the reason for Roger’s aversion to Annabelle is revealed.  Annabelle left Roger for another man, a man she later married and one who later ran her father’s dog food company.  Roger moved on and married Mona then was shipped to the Pacific during the war.  In his return, Roger joined Sterling Cooper, and took the blame when the agency lost the Caldecott Farms’ account.  The two leave the restaurant drunk after finishing off a bottle of Bordeaux with Annabelle believing that Roger will fall for her again, but she was mistaken.  Annabelle leaves the restaurant rejected and humiliated.

Joan arrives home only to find a surly Greg with a bottle of beer in his hand.  Greg blew his interview, and is in the mood to sour grape about not wanting to be a psychiatrist anyway for his dream is to be a surgeon.  Greg tells Joan that she does not know how to want something her whole life and to strive to have it only to end up not getting it.  Joan has had it with Greg; gone is the supportive wife when she grabs a vase and hits her husband in the head with it.

Don arranges a focus group for Caldecott Farms that quickly goes awry when the dog owners learn that the food their dogs were eating was from Caldecott Farms, the brand of dog food singled out for using horsemeat.  Annabelle could not stand to watch the reaction of the dog owners upon hearing that their dogs were fed horsemeat, and Don’s insistence that the brand Caldecott Farms has been poisoned and should be changed proved much harder to swallow.  Annabelle walks out of the room, and Roger wonders if her reaction was due to her being rejected the previous night, but the woman confesses to not having any recollection of that evening.  Roger bluntly stating her throwing herself at him only to be rejected upset her even more, but her anger subsided when she hears from him that she had broken his heart when she left him for another man.  With her husband dead and buried, Annabelle reveals that leaving Roger was a mistake, one she continued to regret up to the day she buried her late husband.  Roger was the man for her.  Unfortunately for Annabelle, she was not the woman for him.  Soon, Roger calls one of his friends, and recommends hiring Joan.

With Betty and the kids away, Don Draper comes home to Suzanne Farrell, and learns that the woman has come to a realization that she wanted more than she thought she would want from their relationship.  Suzanne assures Don that her need to be more than a mistress to him will pass, but Don confesses that he too wishes that they could truly be with each other.  The two speak about going away as a couple with Suzanne picking a place where they could stay.  Don drops by his house to get a few things for their trip, and has Suzanne wait in the car.  He enters the house only to be greeted by his children and his wife, fully aware that Suzanne is in the car waiting for him, Don tries his best to get back to the car to inform her, but miserably fails for Betty has something important to show him.  Betty demands Don to open the locked drawer in his study, but the man refuses to and prevents his wife from opening it only to learn that the woman already knows what is in it and only then did Don let Betty open the drawer.  Shaken at the realization that his deep, dark secret has been revealed to his wife, Don struggles to find the words to explain what Betty uncovered.

Don tells Betty that he was Dick Whitman, and how he ran away to join the army and that is where he met Donald Draper who later died of an accident.  He was in that accident as well but was only injured so when their names got switched, he decided to assume Donald Draper’s identity that he may leave Korea.  Don later found that it was easier to be Donald Draper than to start over as Dick Whitman, but did not realize that the man had a wife.  Learning of this, he decided to take care of Anna Draper whom he divorced three months before he and Betty got married.  Betty does not know who Don Draper really is, and finds that she cannot trust him.  Don for the very first time speaks to Betty of his family, and reveals that his mother was a twenty-two year old prostitute who died of childbirth.  It was his father’s wife Abigail who raised him, but when Archibald died Abigail moved in with another man whom he called Uncle Mack.  He remembers Uncle Mack as someone who was good to him.  Don tells Betty that all of his family are dead, and he is surprised to hear Betty ask about Adam, the little boy in the pictures she assumed to be her brother.  Don uncharacteristically breaks down to tears when he tells Betty of how he turned Adam away when he wanted to be part of his life, because he could not risk losing his life as Don Draper.  Adam hung himself soon after.  Hours had passed, and there still is no sight of Don.  Suzanne hauls her luggage out of the car and walks back home.

Greg arrives home with a bouquet of flowers and a demeanor that is the complete opposite he had the previous night.  Greg tells Joan that he found a solution to his problem; he joined the army.  He is ecstatic, because his wife will be taken care of, and on top of that, he can fulfill his dream of becoming a surgeon.  With Greg elated with the choice he made, Joan is left with no other option but to be happy for him too.

Don wakes up, and is relieved to find that he has not lost his family.  To the surprise of his secretary, he arrives for work when he is supposed to be on vacation.  He gives Suzanne a call to tell her that they can no longer see each other.  Later that night, he returns home to his wife and kids, and they go trick or treating as a family with Sally dressed as a gypsy and Bobby as a hobo.

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Shut the Door. Have a Seat – Mad Men Episode Summary 3.13

Synopsis: Don Draper learns from Conrad Hilton that McCann Erickson is buying Putnam, Powell & Lowe and Sterling Cooper along with it. He hatches a plan with Bert Cooper to buy back the agency, and learns the many obstacles of doing so. Meanwhile, on the home front, Betty has asked him for a divorce.

Episode Summaries: Don Draper meets with Conrad Hilton and receives some unexpected grave news about McCann Erickson buying Putnam, Powell & Lowe, which consequently makes Sterling Cooper a property of McCann Erickson. Because of this, Hilton has decided to pull his account from Sterling Cooper. This angers Don Draper whose career depended on the Hilton account that he now learns will no longer be his. All his hard work is for naught, but as Conrad Hilton puts it, it’s business. Continue reading...

Don Draper arrives at Sterling Cooper and is reminded of hard times during his childhood when the price of wheat they farmed are being sold for half of what it used to be due to a surplus of stock. His father has decided to hoard his wheat until its price goes up in winter risking losing his house for his inability to pay the mortgage. Moreover, he has decided to leave the cooperative, and go on his own.

Don Draper speaks with Bertram Cooper who knew nothing about the sale of P.P.L., but was not surprised about the news. Bound by a contract, Bert is indifferent about Sterling Cooper having yet another new master. He is yet again going to lose his business, but Bert could not care less for he is very well aware that he already lost his business when P.P.L. bought Sterling Cooper. Don suggests that Bert should buy Sterling Cooper back from P.P.L., but the old man is unwilling to do so knowing that he does not have a lot of years left in him to rebuild his fortune unlike young men like Don who have no qualms in taking risks for men like him could not imagine the consequences that come along with them. Bert is caught off-guard by Don Draper’s interest in the agency’s welfare, and learns that the man is sick and tired of being bounced around like a ping-pong ball, and desires to build something of his own instead of just being a pawn who does his master’s bidding. Having gone this road when he was a young man, Bert understands what Don is going through, but believes that the man does not have a stomach for the realities of running his own company. Don challenges Bert to see what he is really capable of doing.

Bert and Don inform Roger Sterling of the startling news Don received from Conrad Hilton, and their plan to buy the company back from P.P.L. unwilling to let the agency be part of McCann Erickson. Roger could sense the reason why the two has come to him, and it’s because they need him for his money. Envious of Don’s success, Roger sees this as an opportunity to see Don beg, but it is Bert who loses his temper criticizing Roger for throwing away his birthright for a trollop. Roger is unwilling to spend his fortune for Don whom he knew was the proponent of this plan. Don puts aside his ego, recognizes his weaknesses, and acknowledges Roger’s value as an account man. Moreover, Don has come to realize the value of his relationship with him. Roger is moved, but not quite for his fortune allows him to go on early retirement. Bert warns him about the consequences of retiring early, and how most men they knew who have done the same ended up dying at an early age. Roger finds Bert’s approach ridiculous, but the men’s point of them fighting back instead of doing nothing seem to have struck a chord.

Don Draper arrives home and gets another unexpected startling news. Betty is asking for a divorce. Don is in disbelief, and asks his wife to go see a doctor for he believes that she just hasn’t been her self lately given the blows of the past few weeks. However, Betty informs her husband what he failed to notice; she has had a tough year. Don disapproves of the divorce, unwilling to break up their family, but his wife informs him that it was not her who wrecked their family.

Roger, Don and Bert call Lane Pryce into a closed-door meeting informing him of their knowledge of the purchase of P.P.L., and is surprised to learn that the senior partners have become aware of this secret. Lane denies the news, but was soon forced to spill the beans. He informs them that only Sterling Cooper is being sold. Be that as it may, Bert Cooper notifies him of their plan to buy back the agency for the purchase price plus 12%. To their dismay, Lane divulges that the agency is now worth more than what they are willing to pay. With that, their plan is in shambles.

Henry Francis and Betty Draper meet with a divorce attorney and discover that the only grounds for divorce in the State of New York are absence of a spouse, incurable insanity, life imprisonment or adultery. Betty is fully aware of Don’s unfaithfulness, but has no proof of it. At any case, the attorney informs them that adultery could not be used if both parties are at fault to which Betty and Henry attest to have not carried on an affair. Although mortified for his presumption, the lawyer recommends having the divorce in Reno for the State of New York makes it difficult for married couples to get a divorce. In addition, Betty must think about the settlement to which Henry assures her she would not need for he will take care of her and her children. Henry wants the divorce carried out as soon as possible.

Lane calls Saint John to inform him of Don, Bert and Roger’s awareness of the sale, but were misinformed that P.P.L. is being sold as well. To his surprise, it was him who was mistaken. P.P.L. is in fact being sold as well. This troubles Lane who has been kept in the dark about the details of the sale, and is now wary of what his role will be at McCann.

Don Draper returns home, and finds Sally sleeping in grandpa Gene’s old room where he has been temporarily banished. While watching her sleep, he is reminded once again of his childhood when his father and mother had argued in front of him about money. With the bank hounding them, his father is forced to sell the wheat he has been hoarding for much less its value. Don, only a young boy, is to go with his father to Chicago to sell it. The drunken man prepares the horse, but drops the saddle. As he bends over to pick it up, thunder comes crashing startling the horse and accidentally kicks him in the face killing him instantly. Don finishes remembering the accident that unraveled in front of him, and decides to sleep beside his daughter.

Don calls in Bert, Roger and Lane in his office for another closed-door meeting. Don has not given up, and shares with him his idea to go directly to McCann, but Lane advises against it. Moreover, he informs them that he was mistaken. P.P.L. is, in fact, being sold to McCann. Don merely wants to know what the purchase price was so they can buy the agency back, but Lane warns them that he could fire them for involving him in the conspiracy. At this point, Don loses his temper and challenges Lane for his threat pointing out that his only contribution to the agency is terminating people. By some stroke of genius, Don is again struck with an idea, and a much better one than the previous ones he had. Don Draper asks Lane Pryce to fire them, in effect, severing their contracts. Moreover, he gives him good reason to do so. Once the sale is completed, Lane is most probably going to be terminated as well, and Bert offers him a partner role in their new agency. Lane negotiates much more than a partnership, and Don offers to put his name on the door. Lane agrees and sets the wheels in motion, informing them that for their plan to be a success they need accounts. Roger is confident that they can bring with them Lucky Strike, and a few others to take care of cash flow. Lane plans to send notice of their termination after close of business in London that they may not hear of it until Monday morning. They have the weekend to gather accounts, put together a skeleton staff to service them, and gather all the materials required for continuity of service. Anyone who will be involved in this conspiracy must be trustworthy for a leak would put their plans in jeopardy. On Friday, December 13, 1963, Lane Pryce fires Don Draper, Roger Sterling, and Bert Cooper.

Don Draper orders his secretary to send an office-wide memo that Sterling Cooper will be closed for the weekend for carpet cleaning, and no work can be done at the office. Don calls in Peggy Olson to his office, and informs her that Sterling Cooper is once again being sold, but he is starting his own agency and wants her to come in on Sunday to help collect whatever accounts they will end up taking. Peggy is slighted at being ordered instead of being asked for Don assumed that she would do anything he asks him to do. She informs him that she has had other offers that came with a sales pitch about opportunity, and that it is not her desire to build a career where her efforts are not recognized, but gets the blame when things fall apart. Don has misjudged Peggy, and has decided to talk to Kurt and Smitty instead.

Learning that Roger and Don are dropping by at his house, Pete Campbell becomes frantic at being guilty for calling in sick to interview with Ogilvy. Thinking that he has been caught, Pete is surprised and relieved at the same time to learn that the senior partner’s visit was to inform him that McCann bought P.P.L. He gains the confidence he needed when Don informs him that they are not firing him, but tells them that if they are to speak to him about embellishing his title then they should not waste their time for he has made other plans. Seeing right through him, Don placates the young man’s anger and goes right down to business, and tells him about their plan to open a new agency where Roger is to bring in American Tobacco, but are short of billings to cover the agency’s cash flow, and was hoping to get his help on filling the void. Pete is unwilling to bend over for them, and Don knows where he is coming from knowing full well how he was treated at the agency. They inform him that they have not spoken to Ken Cosgrove just yet, and that they have approached him for his accounts and his talents, but Pete wanted to hear it from Don Draper. Don acknowledges Pete for his foresight, and that it is him that their new agency needs to be one step ahead of the competition. He demands that they make him a partner, and requires that his name be on the lobby. Don laughs at the latter for they do not even have an office. He tells Pete that they are going to make him a partner if he could bring in his accounts by Sunday, and would keep the name and the title as a goal. Pete Campbell joins the new agency. Trudy could not be any more proud of Pete.

Don and Roger get themselves a drink, and Don informs him that he is getting a divorce, but it was him who was surprised at learning that Roger already knew. Moreover, Don is unaware that Betty has found another man. Roger’s daughter is friends with Henry Francis’ daughter, which is how he learned about it. He thought he knew all along, but obviously Don is in shock. He arrives home infuriated, and asks Betty about Henry Francis. Don manhandles Betty as he drags her out of the bed demanding to know who Henry is, insulted at learning that he is no longer good enough for her. He threatens her at not getting anything from him. Moreover, he will take the kids with him for they are better off with him. Betty is unfazed and tells him of her plan to go to Reno where he is to give his consent to end their marriage. Betty is no longer afraid of Don for she now knows his secrets. He grabs her hard and calls her a whore. The commotion disturbs baby Gene in his sleep. Betty throws Don out of their house.

Pete Campbell arrives at the office, and rides the elevator with the clueless Harry Crane who had just been offered a chance to be the new head of media at the new agency they are planning to start. In shock, Harry could not provide an answer, and seeks to speak to his wife to which Cooper clearly is not going to allow him to do for their plans are to be kept secret until Monday morning. He is to decide right then and there. Harry Crane joins Cooper in his new agency.

Don Draper is not in sight for there is trouble at home that he needs to attend to. Betty informs their children that Don is moving out of the house, but will come to visit. Bobby thinks that it is his fault that his father is moving out, but Don assures him that what their family is going through right now has nothing to do with them. Sally is upset with her father having been told long ago that he will always come home, and learns now that he will no longer be with them. Both children are upset and reluctant to lose their father, but Don and Betty have agreed to part ways.

Don drops by Peggy’s apartment to admit having taken her for granted, and for being hard on her. His mistake stems from him seeing her as the extension of himself, which she clearly is not. Don tells Peggy that she understands things that nobody does, which he finds very valuable. Don is moving on with or without her, but he would very much like her to help him. Moreover, even if she says no, he will spend the rest of his life trying to hire her.

The mad men at Sterling Cooper are racking their brains trying to figure out where the materials they need are stored when Roger decides to make a call. Soon after, Joan Holloway Harris arrives at the office ready with a plan. She’s been barely been back a minute when all things have started to make sense. Having learned from Joan what and where the things they need are, the men could now start packing. Don arrives with Peggy in tow. It has been a long day, but they got all they needed. Don and Roger stand at the entrance of their office, and stares at it in one last goodbye.

Monday morning, Allison enters Don’s office, and finds it ransacked. She yells at everyone that they have been robbed. Meanwhile, Lane arrives at his office with a call from Saint John waiting for him. Saint John fires Lane Pryce. The new agency sets up shop at The Pierre hotel, and gets their very first call. Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce is born. Meanwhile at Sterling Cooper, word gets out that Don is gone. Moreover, Pete has tried to poach John Deere over the weekend. Paul Kinsey enters Peggy’s office only to discover that she is gone too.

Don calls Betty to notify her that he still does not know where he will be staying, but he will be working out of The Pierre, and that he has conceded; he will no longer fight her. He hopes that she gets what she always wanted. Betty assures him that he will always be their children’s father.

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The Color Blue – Mad Men Episode Summary 3.10

Synopsis: Don Draper has been spending his evenings with Suzanne Farrell, but the arrival of the woman’s troubled younger brother put a stop to their tryst. Meanwhile, Paul Kinsey has made it a point to compete with Peggy Olson, this after the young copywriter enhanced his idea on the Aqua Net ad that gained Don Draper’s approval. Betty Draper happens upon the key to Don’s top drawer, and discovers his secret.

Episode Summary: Don Draper has not been sleeping at home, and Betty has become concerned that her husband is working too much. Little did she know that her husband has been spending his evenings a few blocks from their house. Don knocks on the door of Suzanne Farrell who is equally delighted to see him. While her husband is down the road making love with her daughter’s teacher, Betty spends her evening in the tub reading Mary McCarthy’s novel, The Group.. Continue reading...

After their lovemaking, Suzanne tells Don of a question an eight-year-old boy asked her earlier that day. The boy, Charlie, asked her if what he sees as the color blue is the same as it is to her. Suzanne was stumped with the question, and gave the truthful answer of not knowing. Don, on the other hand, gave an answer one would typically hear from an ad man. He would have told Charlie that he knows that there is a color blue that at least forty-five percent of the population sees the same way. It boils down to his belief that people see things differently, but they don’t really want to. Suzanne must have seen the sadness in Don enough for her to ask him if he feels bad about his work. As expected, he gave her an answer that is vague, but made her feel good about herself. Don thinks that nobody feels as good about what they do as she does.

Don arrives at Sterling Cooper with his staff waiting for him by his office door. Paul Kinsey leads the creative team working on the Aqua Net account. To convey his idea, Paul calls on the help of his colleagues to act out the “Double Date” ad he had in mind. As the story goes, two couples are in a car when the scarf of the woman in the back blows off disheveling her hair. The woman in the passenger seat takes off her scarf, and lends it to the woman at the back, but her hair is untouched. Impressed with her generosity and perfect hair, her date gives her a knowing smile of admiration. The ad ends with a slogan “Aqua Net. Arrive in style.” Don, however, is not impressed with the ad for it has too much story in it. Peggy simplifies it with her idea of the woman at the back having to put on a kerchief to keep the wind from ruining her hair, and gives a longing look at the woman in front with the perfect hair. Paul supports her idea given that his slogan still fits the storyline. Peggy adds a last scene where a can is covered with a see-through kerchief that the wind blows away to reveal Aqua Net. Don is impressed and approves the idea.

Later, Peggy learns that Paul is in fact livid with her input on his Aqua Net idea. Ostensibly, Paul has been holding a grudge at Peggy seeing how Don has taken notice of her work, but only because she is a girl. Paul warns her that her gender will no longer be to her advantage with the Western Union account.

Lane Pryce arrives to personally deliver Don’s $5,000 signing bonus having finally agreed to sign a contract with the agency. He also asks if his friend, Connie Hilton, will be attending Sterling Cooper’s 40th anniversary. Don confirms his high-profile friend’s attendance, and learns that he is expected to give a speech. Lane’s wife’s arrival that demands his immediate attention interrupts their conversation. A distressed Mrs. Lane had been taken advantage of by a cab driver. Sorely missing London and never taken a liking to New York, this incident is the last straw that broke the camel’s back. To add to her annoyance, Lane seems to prefer New York over London, which could only mean that they may never return home.

Later that night, Don is once again with Suzanne. The woman is on the verge of an orgasm trying very hard not to scream when they hear a knock on the door that startles both of them. Not knowing what to do, Suzanne answers the door to Don’s alarm. Luckily, it’s only Suzanne’s brother, but still Don is apprehensive about another person finding him at her place. Suzanne wants him to meet her brother, and Don hesitantly agrees to her request. Seeing the young man, Don probably regretted having agreed to meet him. With a bandaged gash on his head, and looking like an addict, Danny says what he believes is in Don’s mind, and swears that he is not a junkie. Suzanne informs Don that her brother has fits, and as though ashamed for not shaking the man’s hand earlier, Don extends his, and takes his leave. Having learned that her brother lost his job pushing a cart in a library, Suzanne promises to get him another job where he could be safe. Danny believes that other people are the problem, and Suzanne believes him.

Bert Cooper shows Roger Sterling a picture of him with his colleagues in 1923. Roger points out that all of those mad men in the photograph are dead except for Bert and Doug Thompson whom he wishes to be dead. He holds a grudge to the man who tricked him into eating a whole roll of Bolls Laxatives after making him believe it to be candy. The idea of Bert going to another funeral upsets him. Both men are not looking forward to their agency’s fortieth anniversary with Bert finding himself closer to the grave, and Roger having to watch Don accept an award. Roger could not believe that a man he found working at a fur coat company with a degree he earned from a night school is now an invaluable person at their agency not to mention the industry.

The phone rings at the Drapers, and Sally Draper with permission from her mother answers the phone. To her surprise, nobody is on the other line, and is curious why the person hung up. Both husband and wife look guilty. Betty explains to her daughter that it was probably a wrong number, and it is not unusual. Having heard the person on the other line, Sally could not fathom why that person hung up on her. Her incessant questions led to her getting scold.

Paul and Peggy are bent on impressing Don with their Western Union ideas that they found themselves staying late at work. After hours of thought, Peggy found the idea she could work with. The telegraph, she finds, is honest, solid, clear, old, but it’s good. It is traditional. Happy with the concept, Peggy calls it a day. She notices that Paul is still in his office, but decides not to say goodbye. Thinking that Peggy is still at the office, a drunken Paul calls out for her, but instead gets a response from a man. There’s no one else in the office but him and the custodian Achilles. An unusual name for an American, Paul asks the man about it who then tells him a story of how most of the men in his family are named Achilles. Paul did not let the poor man finish his story of how every man in a family party would turn their heads upon hearing the name, because he finally had a revelation. Ecstatic, Paul returns to his office and has another drink.

Suzanne seating beside him on the train troubles Don who later asks her if she was the one who called his house the night before. This question and Don’s uneasy behavior of taking great pains to pretend that they know each other upsets Suzanne. The woman felt the need to see him after not hearing from him for days. Don has not been calling knowing that her brother is staying at her place. Suzanne confesses not to care about his marriage, his work or any of his baggage for she only wants him to be with her. Don discreetly holds her hand. Suzanne informs him that she has found a job for her brother as a custodian at a hospital. More importantly, she assures Don that he can come visit again for her brother will be gone.

Lois Sadler wakes up Paul who has fallen asleep on his office couch. The smile on his face has not faded. He asks Lois to type up his fantastic idea, but alas he could not find it in any of his notes. He frantically scours his trashcan hoping that he had written the idea, and mistakenly threw it away.

Lane practices his speech for the 40th anniversary party when he receives a call from Harold Ford in London asking about the status of their party. He is surprised to hear the disappointment from Ford upon learning of Bert’s decision not to attend the celebration, and soon discovers that the purpose of the party is to attract potential buyers for Putnam, Powell, and Lowe has put Sterling Cooper up for sale. Lane is in shock knowing very well how they managed to reduce the staff and increase revenue, which Saint John points out is exactly why they have decided to sell the agency. Having gotten his instructions from his superiors, Lane wastes no time to convince Bert Cooper to attend the anniversary party. He gets him with his vanity. Bert could not stand the thought of people thinking that he was unable to attend due to illness.

Betty gives Henry Francis a call wondering whether it was he who phoned last night, and learns that it was not him. Thinking that Betty made up the story, Henry becomes annoyed at her making excuses, and tells her that he will not call her, but if she feels the need to speak with him then she should just do so. Betty says goodbye and hangs up the phone. Later, he hears a clanging in the dryer. Don left the key to the top drawer in his study in his robe. This after baby Gene’s crying interrupted his stashing of the signing bonus he cashed. Betty is delighted to learn that she could finally take a peek at Don’s treasured belongings. She opens a shoebox filled with photographs and personal items of a man named Dick. Moreover, she found a deed of a house under the name of Anna Draper, and divorce papers from the same woman. The shock of her discovery drained her face of color. She asks Carla to take the kids out of the house until dinnertime.

Don pays Suzanne a visit, believing that her brother has left her place. The woman did not lie, but the young man’s departure has been postponed to that night. Don offers to drive Danny to Bedford, Massachusetts not wanting Suzanne to drive back home alone. Suzanne gives her what seems to be all the money she has, and bids goodbye to her brother with a tight embrace. In the car, Danny informs Don that he is not going to Bedford unwilling to accept the custodian job. He declares that he is an epileptic, and not a retard. He believes himself to be capable of doing more than a menial job of cleaning toilets. Don agrees to pull over, and tells him that he can improve his situation with his own efforts. Danny disagrees. He is not dumb, but he is very much aware of his affliction that the world is not ready to accept. Don gives him extra cash, and his business card asking the young man to give him a call in time of desperation. Moreover, he warns him that if something happens to him, Suzanne will never forgive herself.

With the shoebox on the dinner table, Betty waits for her husband. Regrettably, Don decided to come home to Suzanne hoping to get what he really wanted from her. Unfortunately, Suzanne still feeling guilty about sending her brother away is not in the mood. It’s two in the morning, and Don still has not come home. Betty returns the shoebox inside Don’s top drawer, and the key in her husband’s robe then goes to bed.

Don arrives in his office, and gives Betty a call with an excuse that he was with Conrad Hilton. Betty believes him thinking that she must have just forgotten about it. Don informs her that he will be picking her up that afternoon for the anniversary party. Unable to confront her husband on the phone with her discovery, Betty feigns illness, but Don insists that she come with him, and just like Bert, Don got her through her vanity.

Peggy passes by Paul’s office to remind him of their meeting with Don, and finds the man sitting by his desk looking out the window. Paul confesses to have had something incredible to show Don, but lost it. He had spent the previous night trying to recreate the events of the other evening when he got the revelation, but none of it helped. He had nothing, and then he had everything if only he had written it. Paul shares with Peggy the Chinese proverb that “The faintest ink is better than the best memory.” Paul and Peggy somberly enter Don’s office knowing that they don’t have anything good to share. Having heard Peggy’s unenthused idea, Don looks to Paul who truthfully informs him that he has nothing. Don raises his voice at him, and Peggy defends his colleague urging him to tell the man what happened. Paul reluctantly tells Don that he had a great idea, but failed to write it down, and now it is lost. To his surprise, Don could relate. Peggy remembers the Chinese proverb he had told her, and even asks him to restate it. She is struck with an idea that a telegram is permanent. Again, Peggy’s quick thinking and spontaneity got the best of him. Don is once again impressed with her, and adds the slogan “You can’t frame a phone call.” Paul is in disbelief.

Don Draper picks up his glamorous, elegant, stunning wife at home trying very hard to conceal her fury. Roger Sterling makes his way to the party with his wife and senile mother who mistook Jane for his daughter Margaret. At another car is a silent Lane Pryce with his equally hushed wife. Stuck in traffic, Lane could no longer keep the secret that has troubled him ever since he heard about it. He informs his wife that Putnam, Powell and Lowe has decided to sell Sterling Cooper. The idea that the sale would mean their return to England delights his wife. Meanwhile, at their own limousine, Betty Draper is a woman ready to blow, but Don is too busy studying his speech to take notice. At last, all arrived at the party. As though adding insult to injury, Roger Sterling has been tasked to present Don Draper to everyone along with his impressive, award-studded resume. Don takes the stage amidst the deafening applause.

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Wee Small Hours – Mad Men Episode Summary 3.9

Synopsis: Conrad Hilton has made it a habit to call Don Draper in the wee small hours of the morning. Finding the need to please the client, Don kowtows to the legendary businessman. Lee Garner Jr. makes a curious demand to Harry Crane putting him in a precarious position where his misjudgment might cost Sterling Cooper the Lucky Strike account. Meanwhile, Betty Draper gives in the urge to resume contact with Henry Francis knowing very well that this could lead to an affair.

Episode Summary: In the wee small hours of the morning, Betty Draper dreams of being caressed by Henry Francis when a ringing telephone awakened her, her husband, and their newborn child. On the other line is Conrad Hilton claiming to have a revelation. He wants Don Draper to wow him with ideas for his international business, but the man will not hand it to him on a silver platter. Conrad Hilton wants Don Draper to earn it. Unable to get back to sleep, Don decides to go to work. Continue reading...

The sun was not yet up when Don Draper drove to work. He catches sight of Suzanne Farrell jogging in the middle of the night. Don offers to bring her home defeating the purpose of her jog, but she rides with him anyway. Don asks her to have coffee with him, but she turns him down.

During a shoot for a Lucky Strike commercial, Lee Garner Jr. forces Pete Campbell to smoke a cigarette despite his reluctance to do so. Unwilling to disappoint the client, Pete takes a drag, and ends up coughing his lungs out the rest of the shoot. Lee then critiques Sal’s direction, and insists that he make the change. He asks Harry Crane for his opinion, which did not help Sal’s cause for the cowardly man took the side of the client declaring that they are to do what the client asks. Sal agrees to Lee’s changes gaining favor with the client.

Don Draper once again drives in the wee small hours of the morning hoping to catch Suzanne on her jog, but does not see her. Later that day, Betty Draper receives a letter from the mail from Henry Francis responding to the note she wrote to him asking if anyone else reads his letters. She learns that Henry had put a stop to other people reading his mail, and this put a smile on her face. Moreover, he gives her another mailing address.

Lee Garner Jr. is again hanging around with Salvatore Romano curious about the process of putting together a commercial. Left alone in the editing room as Sal was reviewing the cut, Lee makes a pass at him. This alarms Sal who politely fends off his advances, and asks him to leave in the least offensive way. As though embarrassed at another man seeing through his sexuality, Sal expresses his rage soon after Lee left.

Betty begins writing to Henry, and admits to looking forward to getting his letters in the mail. In her short correspondence, Betty was able to convey her boredom, and frustration for having no outlet to express her thoughts. Moreover, she shows her willingness to getting to know him better.

Harry Crane is at the office with Paul Kinsey watching Perry Mason, but only to make sure that all their commercials run on the spots they have purchased. It was then when he received the call from Lee Garner Jr. asking him to fire Salvatore Romano. Harry argues that only the account team can fulfill his request, but Lee insists that he be the one to do the deed. Moreover, he asks that they keep the matter between the two of them. Paul falling witness to the call asks what the man wanted, and Harry informs him of Lee’s request. Harry believing Lee to be drunk as a skunk when he made the call decides to ignore his demands.

Don Draper was lying on his bed wide-awake when he receives yet another middle of the night call from Conrad Hilton. He was already expecting it, but was surprised when Connie asked to join him for a drink that instant. Don meets Hilton for a drink at his place to listen to the man’s thoughts. Connie believes that it is his mission to bring America to the world. He believes America to be a force of good, because Americans believe in God, while the communist’s strongest belief is the opposite. He makes a reference to The Marshall Plan, and declares that everyone who saw the American way wanted to be like Americans. He remembers that of all the criticisms thrown at Nikita Khrushchev, the man had a meltdown at the news of him being barred entry to Disneyland. Despite his strong political views, Hilton detests mixing politics in any of his campaigns. However, he asks for goodness and confidence. The nutty, lonesome Conrad Hilton is grateful to have Don listen to his thoughts, and confesses to seeing him as more than a son. He has great respect for Don for he did not have what his sons have, and he understands.

Henry drops by the Draper’s house unable to fight the urge to see Betty. This delights and frightens Betty who knows that Carla will be back at the house soon. True enough, the helper arrives at the house. Betty introduces the man as somebody who works for Governor Rockefeller, and Henry pretends to have dropped by to see if they could have the fundraiser at the Draper’s. Carla is no fool.

The time has come for the screening of the new Lucky Strike commercial. Both Sal and Harry are on the edge annoying Roger Sterling. Pete Campbell arrives with Lee Garner Jr. in high spirits. His mood quickly changed at seeing Sal in the room. He looks at Harry with great disappointment, and walks out of the room leaving both Pete and Roger confounded. Pete runs after Lee, while Roger tries to make sense of things. Harry finally relays the request Lee had asked of him, and his reasons for not acting on it. Although stunned at the demand, and the channels their client went through, Roger wastes no time to act on it. Roger Sterling fires Salvatore Romano. Pete, unable to get Lee to speak, returns only to fall witness to Sal’s termination. Roger orders Harry to have Don fix the mess despite not being involved with the Lucky Strike account.

Harry Crane does as he is told. He walks to Don’s office followed by Sal. Harry informs Don of the incident, and Roger’s orders to have him fix the mess that might cause them to lose the $25 million dollar account if they haven’t already. Don orders Harry to leave the office, and pries from Sal what truly happened. Sal tells Don about the incident in the editing room, but did not find sympathy from the creative director. Don expected him to do the client’s bidding, and had in a subtle way expressed his disgust at people like Sal. Don makes Sal’s termination official.

Don arrives home, and Betty could see the unease in Carla. To hide the maliciousness of Henry’s visit, she decides to inform Don of the impromptu meeting in front of her making a story of Francine Hanson sending him over to ask to use their house for a fundraiser claiming that hers is not big enough. Don couldn’t care less, but both women knew what truly is going on.

Betty gives Henry a call in Don’s earshot to inform him that her husband has agreed to hold the fundraiser at their house. This surprised Henry who knew very well that the fundraiser was an alibi meant to mask his reasons for paying Betty a visit. Betty sets the date surprising Henry even more, but explains that she has to keep up with pretenses to corroborate their alibi.

Don Draper pitches campaign ideas for Hilton’s international business to Conrad Hilton. His whole campaign revolves around the idea that Hilton can provide the American traveler the luxuries one enjoys at home. Don is delighted to see the man pleased with the pitch. All was well until Connie expressed his disappointment at not seeing an ad about the moon. Dismissing Hilton’s chatter about the moon, Don did not realize that the man was serious about it, and expected him to indulge him. Conrad Hilton leaves Sterling Cooper greatly disappointed with Don Draper.

Betty Draper throws the fundraiser for Rockefeller on the agreed date, and could not help but be disappointed to learn that Henry Francis will not be attending the fundraiser. He had sent on his behalf his colleague Elsa Kittridge. The following day, a livid Betty Draper drives to the office of Henry Francis. Betty, infuriated with the man for having her wait for him only to learn that he will not come, throws the lockbox with the donations from the fundraiser at him. Henry explains that he did what he did to lure her into coming to him. It was the only way for them to see each other given Betty’s marital status. Henry kisses Betty passionately, and she returns accordingly. He locks the door of his office. As though being awakened from a trance, Betty realizes the inappropriateness of their rendezvous. She puts a stop to their affair, and says goodbye.

Roger Sterling drops by Don’s office to scold him. Hearing of the news of Hilton leaving the meeting upset, Roger sees an opportunity to kick the man while he’s down. He claims that Don has put all his efforts into pleasing Conrad Hilton that the creative director has ignored his other responsibilities indirectly blaming him for the incident with Lucky Strike.

Carla was solemnly listening to Martin Luther King’s eulogy for the martyred children on the radio when Betty arrived. She immediately switches the station. Betty informs her that she did not have to do that, and asks what she was listening to. Carla tells Betty that it was the funeral service for the victims of the Birmingham tragedy. Betty, although tolerant, did convey to Carla about her reservations on civil rights. Carla was taken aback by this revelation, but says nothing.

Don wakes Betty to tell her that Hilton called, and he must go to the office. It was a lie. Unable to fight the urge, Don knocks on Suzanne’s door. The woman has been flirting with him for months, and the time has come to act on it. Suzanne who knows very well what is at stake tries to fight the urge to carry on an affair with her student’s father. Don could not care less. Suzanne and Don begin their affair.

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Souvenir - Mad Men Episode Summary 3.8

Synopsis: It’s the middle of summer, and most people are out on vacation. Conrad Hilton sends Don Draper to Rome, and Betty goes with him. It was a reprieve both husband and wife needed. Meanwhile, Pete Campbell stays at home while his wife goes on vacation with her family, and carries on an affair with his next-door neighbor’s housekeeper.

Episode Summary: It’s August, and while most people in New York have made plans to escape the sweltering city, Pete Campbell looks forward to the quietness of the otherwise bustling metropolitan.

Conrad Hilton’s office calls Don Draper’s house to inform him that he is to spend two days in Rome where he is to meet with Mr. Hilton. Ever since Don signed on to the task of managing Hilton’s ads, the man has been sending him to various business trips. This annoys Betty, but Don suggests that she come with him to Rome. Unfortunately, with two kids, and a newborn, this seems not to be an option. Continue reading...

With Trudy away, Pete Campbell is living a life of a bachelor. One night he returns home from the grocery store to find the young housekeeper of their neighbor crying by the garbage shoot. The young woman is trying to dispose of her employer’s designer dress that she borrowed and stained. Feeling sorry for her, Pete offers help, and takes the dress.

Betty Draper busies herself with the Junior League’s plan to save the Pleasantville Road reservoir calling residents to help with their cause. The day has come for them to present their case at a hearing, but Henry Francis is nowhere in sight. Moreover, the mayor’s office seemed to have intentionally left out their petition from the agenda. Francine Hanson speaks out to note the oversight and so does Marilyn Ferrelly. Henry Francis arrives just in time delighting Betty, and he introduces himself to the mayor as Governor Rockefeller’s Director of Public Relations and Research. Moreover, he comes to deliver a request from the governor’s office stating that further study needs to be made having learned that the claim that questions the quality of the water from the reservoir is inconclusive. The letter from the governor that Mr. Francis brought with him was enough to make the mayor declare the suspension of the development of the Pleasantville Road reservoir. The Junior League of Tarrytown could not be more pleased. Henry walks Betty to her car, and she once again expresses her gratitude to him. The man confesses that he puts his heart into something or someone that he cares about. Moreover, he notes seeing how happy Betty was having won the fight against the water tank project. Henry asks her if he has something to do with that, and she agrees. The man leans over and passionately kisses Betty, and she does not resist. It even seemed to have brought a smile on her face, but nonetheless she drives away.

Betty comes home and finds her husband getting ready for his trip to Rome. Don notices that the woman is happy, so delighted that she managed to do a victory dance. He learns that the Junior League won its cause thanks to someone from the governor’s office. Moreover, because the new study the governor required would take years to complete, the Junior League is hopeful that the delay would cause the developer to look for another reservoir to use. Betty lies awake in bed thinking. She wakes Don to ask him if she could go with him to Rome, and he says yes.

Pete Campbell drops by Bonwit Teller hoping to replace the dress that his neighbor’s housekeeper ruined. The sales clerk informs him that the dress cannot be returned given the huge stain on it. Insulted, Pete declares that he will be paying for the replacement, but the clerk informs him that the dress is from last season, and is most probably no longer in stock. He asks to speak with the manager who happens to be Joan Holloway. Both are surprised to see each other. Joan makes it sound as if she is just filling in, and is only in it for the added benefit of getting first pick at the latest fashion. However, making it known of her awareness that the dress could not have been Trudy’s given the size of it, Pete is most likely not going to talk about seeing her working at a department store especially since the man had asked her to keep their encounter a secret.

Don and Betty Draper arrive in Rome, and already Betty is getting the attention of the Italian men. Conrad Hilton wastes no time, and gives their room a ring wanting to hear their thoughts about his hotel in their meeting later that evening. Don is still asleep when Betty asks the concierge in perfect Italian for an appointment at a beauty salon. Evening came, and Betty is all dolled up. She sits at a restaurant alone, and the Italian men at the next table waste no time to flirt with her. Don Draper walks by, but sits at the next table instead. He asks Betty if he could join her. The Italian men are annoyed, and tell him to go back where he came from. Moreover, they insult him in Italian. He asks Betty if they are making fun of him, and she acknowledges it. She then receives a Don Draper pick-up line. Soon he joins her, and informs her of his room number. Seeing that another man has made a move, and was successful at conquering the lovely foreigner, the Italian men disappointingly bid Betty farewell. Conrad Hilton arrives, and tells Don how indecently lucky he is to have Betty. Don and Betty Draper return to their room and make love.

Francine Hanson has a work emergency and leaves her kids with Carla. Sally Draper and Ernie Hanson play in the bathtub pretending that they are in a car driving. Sally steals a kiss from Ernie unaware that her brother is watching them. Bobby teases her sister, and she angrily tackles him and hits him. However, her anger seems to have come from the embarrassment of having stolen a kiss from a boy who did not want it.

Pete Campbell delivers the new dress to his neighbor’s housekeeper who could not thank him enough for having the dress she ruined replaced. Pete asks her out for a drink to celebrate, but the young woman declares that she already has a boyfriend, but she gives him a kiss on the cheek nonetheless. Peter returns home, and drinks alone. Later, when he has one or two many drinks, he knocks on his neighbor’s door knowing that the housekeeper is alone given that her employer is out on vacation. Declaring that he went to all this trouble to help her, he believes that he is entitled to at least see the dress on her. The housekeeper reluctantly agrees, and she leads him to her room. Pete closes the door, and kisses her passionately.

Nutty Conrad Hilton calls the Draper’s room asking them to have breakfast with him. Betty is not in the mood, and Don makes an excuse of having already ordered breakfast. Connie seems to be all right with this, but wanted a report about his hotel’s room service. Betty, however, has something else in mind. The two passionately kiss, but Don finds the need to get up. Betty could not seem to get enough of Don Draper that she decides to join him in the shower.

Don and Betty return from their trip. It’s back to reality. Carla welcomes them home, but out of concern informs them of the incident between Sally and Bobby. Having seen how the young girl beat her brother after being teased for kissing Ernie, Carla has become worried that Sally has gotten a temper.

Pete Campbell’s neighbor drops by his apartment, and asks if his wife is at home. Learning that she is not, he asks to speak with him. Pete denies having met his neighbor’s housekeeper, but Mr. Lawrence could see right through him. It was an undeniable truth given that the housekeeper informed them of what Pete has done to her. Mr. Lawrence did not drop by to cause trouble. He merely warns him to stay away from his housekeeper trying to avoid having to look for another one, and advises that he be discreet with his affairs. Pete is mortified.

Trudy is back from her vacation with her family completely unaware of what transpired when she was away. They happen to catch an elevator with the Lawrence’s kids and their housekeeper making for an awkward moment between Pete and the housekeeper, but Trudy was too clueless to even notice. She did, however, notice the guilty look on his face, but only attributed it to him seeing children, which is something they could not have. Pete is on the verge of tears, but says nothing to his wife who now has become upset knowing that something happened, but his husband could not bring himself to tell her. Later, Pete returns home to his wife. She pretends that nothing has happened. Although, Pete did not say a single word somehow she knew what it was that troubled her husband. Pete still has not confessed, but he asks her not to leave him alone again. With that, it is as if Trudy has forgiven him, and they resume their lives.

Betty has a chat with Sally. She tells her daughter that a girl does not go out kissing boys, as it should be the other way around. Moreover, she wants her first kiss to be special. This worries Sally given that she already kissed Ernie Hanson, but Betty tells her that she’ll have plenty more first kisses. The first kiss she’ll have with someone marks the beginning of a stranger becoming someone more.

Francine stops by the Drapers and informs Betty that the board has called a secret meeting, and she believes that they have reversed the decision from the hearing. This means that Betty may have to spend more time with Henry Francis, but she declares that she is done with the Pleasantville Road reservation project. Francine notices that Betty seemed to have a good time in Rome with Don. She remembers the time she and her husband went to Lake George to spend time with each other without the kids. She found it to be magical, and something she wishes they could do again. Don is still wrapped up with the two days in Rome he spent with his wife. He gives her jewelry he saw at a gift shop in Rome hoping that it will stir up the good memories they have from their trip. Unfortunately, Betty is already over it, and is back to her usual surly self.

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Seven Twenty Three - Mad Men Episode Summary 3.7

Synopsis: Conrad Hilton makes Don Draper in charge of the ad campaigns for three of his hotels in New York, but the deal is dependent on Don’s agreement to sign a contract with Sterling Cooper. Betty Draper accepts the role of secretary of the Junior League at Tarrytown, and her first task is to get Henry Francis of the governor’s office to help them stop the water tank project. Duck Phillips continues to woo Peggy Olson into joining him at Grey Advertising.

Episode Summary: Peggy Olson is in bed with a man. Betty Draper lies on a chaise lounge. Don Draper finds himself on the floor of a motel room with a broken nose. The events that led to these are as follows.

Don Draper walks down the stairs of his house to find his living room redecorated. Not wanting to be bothered with the pettiness of house decorating, Don shrugs his shoulders and approves the change, but Betty insists on getting his input. He makes a trivial comment of moving the lamp to the other side of the couch, kisses his wife goodbye and leaves for the office. Continue reading...

Annoyed at finding his team hovering by his office door, Don scolds his secretary only to find that much of the mad men’s expectant anticipation were brought about by the man waiting for him in his office, Conrad Hilton. Now, he finds himself as anxious as the men he just dismissed. Don Draper puts on a smile and shakes the hand of the man sitting on his chair who wastes no time to reprimand him for his tardiness. After a brief chat of how disturbing Connie Hilton finds Don’s lack of a bible or a family photo in his office, the man immediately goes down to business, and assigns Don to be the man-in-charge of advertising for three of his New York hotels – Waldorf Astoria, New York Hilton, and Statler Hilton. It was a business deal sealed with a handshake just as how Conrad Hilton does business. Don Draper escorts Connie Hilton out of Sterling Cooper, and all eyes are on him. Everyone saw the handshake, and how pleased the legendary businessman is with him. Don was met with applause as he marched his way back to his office.

Don meets with his team for their status meeting delayed by the impromptu meeting he had with Conrad Hilton. The mad men are anxious to know how he met the legendary businessman, which he answers truthfully. Don and Connie met at a party. Pete Campbell begs to be part of the accounts Conrad had bestowed upon Don. Oh how the wheels have turned. The account man tasked to bring accounts is asking creative to be in on it. Don declares that his decision will be based on how the North American Aviation account pans out. Pete Campbell is hopeful after hearing about the influx of orders to build defense aviation vehicles for the war effort on Vietnam. He believes that he was able to convince North American Aviation to spend more on advertising in order to get contracts from Pentagon instead of NASA.

After giving birth, and having her house redecorated, Betty Draper assumes the role of secretary of the Junior League of Tarrytown. Their first order of business is to take on the issues on the proposed three million gallon water tank project. It is their organization’s belief that the water tank will drain the Pleasantville Road reservoir and blemish the natural and financial health of their community. Their strategy is to appeal directly to the governor’s office by raising the problem on conservation and worthless real estate that is the consequence of this project if it gets approved. Betty Draper informs them of having met the acquaintance of Henry Francis whom the women learn to be an adviser to the governor. Moreover, one of the women remembered him to be the Republican Party chair for the Westchester County, and is the man with the power and authority to do something. The women agree that they will have a better chance of winning the fight if they send the charming and adorable Betty Draper to raise their cause.

Betty Draper gives the office of Henry Francis a call, but was not able to speak to the man given his busy schedule. She informs his secretary that her call is of a civic matter that concerns the town of Ossining, and leaves her contact information. Not a minute had passed when Henry Francis returns her call. The man remembers Betty Draper very well, and asks about her newborn child. Though the tone of their conversation is casual, Betty wastes no time to raise the Junior League’s issue on the destruction of the Pleasantville Road Reservoir. Betty claims that the proposed water tank will destroy the scenic view, and is surprised to learn that Henry Francis grew up at Mount Salem, which is part of the area in trouble. Henry promises to check the reservoir the very next day, and Betty agrees to meet with him.

Peggy Olson receives a Hermes scarf, and Pete Campbell walks in her office just as she was opening the package. Having received a package himself, he warns her of the ruse. True enough, the expensive gift is from Duck Phillips. Peggy is not as suspicious of Duck as Pete who has become paranoid, and asks her if Don has involved her in the Hilton project. Peggy, unaware that Conrad Hilton had stopped by, is genuinely surprised of the new business they received. Loving the gift she received, she decides to keep it. Pete advises her to send it back knowing that Duck is merely trying to get back at Don by snagging his two reliable and trusted employees.

The senior partners and Lane Pryce call Don Draper into a meeting both taken aback and surprised that the man has not informed them of the new business he received from Conrad Hilton. Lane Pryce informs the creative director that their mother company in London is pleased as they see Hilton’s company going international. No matter how pleasing to the ears this is, Bertram Cooper is not ready to pop the champagne. Hilton’s lawyers are apprehensive about the deal given Don’s lack of contract with Sterling Cooper. Afraid that they will lose a major deal, Sterling Cooper drew up a contract for Don Draper that promises him a bag of goods in return for three years of service. Lane is surprised that Don has decided to sleep on it showing his disinterest with signing it despite the more than generous offer. Seeing Conrad Hilton as a man that is not tied down by legalities, Don orders them to inform the man of his aversion to contracts, but Sterling Cooper sees no other solution to the problem. Conrad may agree with Don, but his lawyers never will. Don promises to review the contract over the weekend.

As agreed upon, Betty Draper meets Henry Francis at Svenson’s bakery. Henry informs her that the water tank project is already underway, but nothing that cannot be fixed by somebody with clout. Henry is just the man for the job, a lawyer by degree, but made a career as a strategist, fundraiser, and a hopeful campaign manager. Disappointingly, Henry did not provide much help or hope for the Junior League’s cause. Expected to have dinner with the governor, the two ends their meeting. They see the waitress and a man looking at the eclipse through the contraption the man had made, while Betty looks directly at it. Henry shields her eyes telling her not to look directly at it. The man is concerned after seeing her look a bit queasy, and they make their way to their cars. They happen to pass by a furniture store with a large chaise lounge displayed at its window. Henry Francis tells her that that is just what she needs, a Victorian fainting couch used by women who feel overwhelmed. Henry asks if he could walk her to her car, but given that it is a small town where people talk Betty advised against it.

Don Draper spends the weekend with his kids at Miss Farrell’s class along with the reluctant Carlton. Miss Farrell introduces the kids to a makeshift sun scope to allow them to view the eclipse without injuring their eyes. Just as you should not directly look at the sun, Don Draper stares at Miss Farrell. Carlton Hanson informs him that he sees the teacher every morning when he is out on his run, but surprisingly the man has not come up to her. Being a serious runner, Carlton claims that it gives him peace as there is etiquette to running, and that is to keep to yourself. Miss Farrell and Don chat as the children and their fathers are busy watching the eclipse. Don is caught off guard with the teacher’s candor absolutely sure that Don is interested with knowing whether she’ll be around during summer vacation. Miss Farrell knows all too well about father’s getting on an affair with their children’s teachers, but Don tries to convince her that he was merely engaging in small talk. He is unlike the other bored fathers, and this charms Miss Farrell even more. Sally Draper breaks their conversation claiming to see the eclipse. The teacher joins her under the sun scope, while Don puts his sunglasses on and stares at the sun.

Peggy Olson gives Duck Phillips a call to inform him that she has not changed her mind, and advises him against sending her gifts. Duck, however, is unconvinced given that the young woman has not sent the gift back. He tells her that she could personally hand him the gift at Suite 600 at The Pierre. He promises to leave her alone after their meeting.

Roger Sterling drops by Don Draper’s office to ask about the contract after learning that the man has not signed it. He is annoyed with the man’s stubbornness, and adamant refusal to sign a contract. Don not giving him any reason as to his aversion equally irritates him especially since his stubbornness is causing trouble for Sterling Cooper. Peggy Olson drops by Don’s office with a pretense of him having to sign-off on her work. Her real reason is to ask about the Hilton project with the hopes of getting her boss to make her part of the team who will be working on it. Don saw right through this. Peggy gets the heat as a result of his infuriating meeting with Roger. He accuses her for being ungrateful, and an opportunist. Moreover, he tells her that there is nothing that she does that he could not live without.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Roger Sterling looks to Betty Draper to settle the matter about Don’s contract. He gives the woman a call feigning seriousness of a situation only to learn that the man is merely trying to get her to convince her husband to sign a contract. This infuriates her, but not as much as his going behind Don’s back.

Peggy drops by Suite 600 at The Pierre. He hands Duck the Hermes scarf he sent her. They sit down for a drink as the man continues to woo her with the stellar accounts Grey Advertising has under its belt not to mention that these accounts require a woman’s touch. Peggy asks to be a copy chief, but Duck is doubtful. He did assure her more money. She asks if her job at Grey would come with a free trip to Paris, but Duck informs her that Hermes is the one who flies to New York for meetings. As though struck with clarity, Peggy officially refuses Duck’s offer. The two shake hands, and soon find themselves in a passionate kiss.

Don Draper arrives home surprised to learn from his wife that Roger Sterling gave her a call under false pretenses only to get her to convince him to sign his contract. Little did he know that his wife is upset with him as well for not being made aware of the contract more so she had to learn about it from Roger. Like everyone around Don, she wonders why the man refuses to sign one. At last, Don explains his reasons for his refusal to have a contract despite his belief that this is none of her wife’s business. His lack of a contract is his power against a company. It makes him desirable yet unattainable. Betty is still upset that Don believes that these things do not concern her, which is why she is not kept in the loop. Equally angry, Don leaves his wife and family for the night.

Don is in his car driving when he spots two young hitchhikers headed for Niagara Falls, but will be happy to hitch a ride to a nearest motel. The young couple is eloping to get married at Niagara Falls only to keep the young man from being shipped to Vietnam. The couple has heard that a law has been passed that will require able men to serve their country, and Don verifies that there is truth to this. The couple becomes worried that Don is with the FBI, but could not help but laugh to learn that he is an ad man. High on Phenobarbital, the young couple offers him drugs as payment for his generosity. Drunk and high on drugs, Don Draper spends time with the young couple at a motel. Soon he sees his dead father sitting on a rocking chair telling a joke, and he laughs. His father mocks him for charming Conrad Hilton, and insults him for the career he chose. To him, he is not a real man. His hands are as soft as a woman’s for he grows nothing but bullshit. Don closes his eyes, and when he opens it again, his old man is gone. The young couple wonders why Don is still conscious after taking two Phenobarbitals. Impatient, the young man hits Don hard on the back of his head. When he came to, he is on the floor with a broken nose. A note lies on the dresser expressing their gratitude for his help. The young couple took his money, and left him only a dollar and his car.

Peggy Olson sitting up on the bed wakes Duck Phillips. Peggy is worried that the housekeeper will barge in the door, and find the two of them in bed, but Duck assures her that he hung up the sign informing the cleaning lady their need for privacy. The two have another go at making love.

The decorator arrives at Betty’s house upset at finding a large Victorian chaise in the living room. The bulky furniture sits in front of the fireplace ruining the carefully thought out living room plan. The decorator tells Betty to make sure to tell her guests that having the Victorian chaise was not her idea as it will ruin her reputation.

If Peggy Olson thought that her wearing the same dress from the previous day would cause stares, Don Draper beat her to it. Don arrives at the office with a broken nose making an excuse that he was in a car accident. For the second time around, Don finds another man sitting on his chair. Bertram Cooper has been waiting for him at his office. Bert reminds Don that without Sterling Cooper, he is nothing. The agency has taken him under its wing, and successfully helped a diamond in the rough reach his full potential. It is now time to pay Sterling Cooper back. Bert lays out the contract in front of Don and orders him to sign it. Don reluctantly signs the contract, but asks not to have any contact with Roger Sterling. Don comes home, finds his wife lying on the chaise lounge, and informs her that he signed the contract.

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Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency - Mad Men Episode Summary 3.6

Synopsis: Executives from Putnam, Powell and Lowe are paying a visit to Sterling Cooper over the July 4th holiday throwing a wrench at everybody’s vacation plans. Their visit happens to coincide on Joan Holloway’s last day at the office for she has decided to become a full-time housewife to her soon-to-be a chief resident doctor husband.

Episode Summary: All employees of Sterling Cooper are called into a meeting. Lane Pryce announces that the Director and Chairman of the Board of Putnam, Powell and Lowe are to pay them a visit to evaluate the performance of their agency. The employees are apprehensive about this, and are annoyed as well given that they are asked to be at the office over the July 4th holiday. Continue reading...

The secretaries have something else to worry about. The top executives of their mother company are coming on Joan Holloway-Harris’ last day at the office when the women have planned to surprise her with a send off. Peggy Olson is unaware of this, but has made it appoint to buy her a gift as soon as she has heard the news. Meanwhile, the mad men are asked to put together a presentation that will showcase their work.

Bert Cooper with Roger Sterling calls Don Draper in his office. He speculates that the main purpose of the visit is really to meet Don. Bert has heard that their mother company has shown a special interest on their creative director, and is probably planning on making him the head of creative of both their New York and London offices. Bert, on the other hand, is more interested in mending the rift between Roger and Don, and has even made a point to make a reservation for the two men at his barbershop. He worries that the dented relationship of the two might cause trouble with their owners. It is for the best of their agency for Don and Roger to reconcile their differences.

Ken Cosgrove makes a grand entrance riding a tractor-like John Deere lawnmower inside the office. The ad man was out closing the John Deere account when the announcement was made. Ecstatic with the feat of closing a major account, Cosgrove is not worried about having to present to Putnam, Powell and Lowe.

Don Draper and Roger Sterling do what Bert had asked, and they spend quality time at a barbershop. Roger Sterling gets his nails done, while Don gets a shave. The two men are as different as night and day. Roger is a spoiled brat born with a silver spoon, while Don is the son of a farmer who had to work his way up the ladder. Though he does not say it, Roger believes that Don finds his need to pamper himself effeminate. He argues that his father was as manly as one could get, but the man did like his nails manicured. Roger hates being judged, which is also probably the reason why the upcoming visit is causing him anxiety. Moreover, this was what spurred their rift. Don is ready to let bygones be bygones, and even expresses his gratitude to Roger. With that, the two are reconciled.

Joan Holloway-Harris is as loyal as one could get. Although Sterling Cooper will be the least of her worries soon, her thoughts are in making a good impression on PPL. She instructs Hildy to inform all their vendors to send their deliveries only between the times when the executives of PPL are at the office. This should give an illusion of how busy the agency becomes. However, no good deed goes unpunished. Mr. Hooker walks over to spoil the surprise the secretaries are planning for Joan with a pretense of an apology for stealing her spotlight given that the visit precludes their celebration. She makes her way home with a plan to surprise her husband with a dinner to celebrate his promotion, but the man spends the night out drinking. He found the need to let off steam after getting news that the hospital has decided to give the position of Chief Resident to another doctor, but the biggest blow to his ego came from an insult from the Chief of Surgery, Dr. Ettinger. Greg Harris will never be a surgeon, and with a year of residency left, Joan needs to continue working. This poses a problem as she has already tendered her resignation.

The executives from Putnam, Powell and Lowe arrive, and are having the rudimentary tour of the office led by Mr. Hooker. Finally, they reach Bert Cooper’s office where the senior partners and Don Draper are waiting. Don is surprised to learn that the visit, it seems, was to parade the young well-accomplished Guy MacKendrick. Dashed are his dreams of getting the promotion that Bert had wrongly speculated to be the purpose of the visit.

Lane Pryce receives Harold Ford and Saint-John Powell at his office who inform him how impressed they are with what he has done with Sterling Cooper. As a reward for his exemplary work for trimming the fat and increasing billings not to mention not hearing a peep for all of the reductions, the executives give him a taxidermy of a snake in a basket. Putnam, Powell and Lowe are sending Pryce to their Bombay office. Clearly unhappy about the so-called reward he is getting, Pryce does what he does best. Lane Pryce kowtows to his bosses’ wishes.

In Guy MacKendrick’s presentation the mad men learns that Lane Pryce is being shipped off to India, and the young man in front of them is assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer. Don Draper will continue to be Sterling Cooper’s Creative Director working with MacKendrick and Cooper who points out that Roger Sterling was left out of the organization chart. MacKendrick apologizes and assures them that it was merely an oversight. Nothing should be made off it. The young executive informs the men that the reorganization will barely make a change, and is excited to inform all their employees of the plan making for a quick and smooth transition.

Guy MacKendrick steps up to the podium, so to speak, to acknowledge the stewardship of Lane Pryce and more importantly to give Joan Holloway-Harris a glowing summation of her work at Sterling Cooper. MacKendrick wishes her all the best, and this brought the woman to tears most probably because the road ahead is far from the life of milk and honey she thought she would have after marrying a doctor. Mr. Hooker rolls out the cake, and Joan composes herself to give her speech expressing her gratitude for the kind gesture.

The employees mingle, and the mad men except for Don Draper waste no time to suck up to the new boss. Don Draper receives an unexpected call from Conrad Hilton’s office informing him of the man’s desire to meet with him. Surprised with what pleasure he owes the man for the icon to seek him, he arranges a meeting with him that very day.

Roger Sterling whines to Bertram Cooper about being left off the organization chart probably because Guy MacKendrick is the person who is to assume his role. His ego is bruised that not even his riches could not soothe. Roger feels that he is being punished for making his job look easy, but acknowledges that the new executive does have the qualifications to do the job right to which Bert asks Roger what that could be. Roger believes that a successful account man is one who keeps his opinion to himself, but Bert tells him that he is mistaken. A successful account man is one who lets things go so he could get what he wants. Moreover, Bert Cooper has resigned to the fact that bowing to their owner’s every wish is a consequence of having sold their agency.

The celebration continues with a superfluity of alcohol. Smitty takes out the John Deere lawnmower for a ride around the office that caused giggles from everybody. Peggy and Joan did not always see things eye-to-eye, but Peggy did listen to her at times. The young woman was about to express her gratitude to her former boss, but never got to for Lois Sadler jumps on the lawnmower and recklessly drives it around the office running over the foot of Guy MacKendrick. Lois stops as she hit one of the offices shattering the glass wall, but the real damage is already done. MacKendrick lies on the floor screaming as his right foot continues to squirt blood. Joan rushes to the man’s side, and orders somebody to get the first aid kit. Her quick thinking saved the man’s life as he was bound to continue to lose more blood if not for her tourniquet.

All this Don Draper missed for he rushed to the Waldorf Astoria to meet Conrad Hilton. He is surprised to find that the man he had a casual conversation with during Roger Sterling’s garden party is none other than the legendary Connie Hilton. The icon sought him to ask for his help on an ad campaign, one Don is reluctant to give for free, but with some slight nudging he does give the man some valuable insight that impressed Hilton enough to think about offering him work. An emergency call from Sterling Cooper, however, abruptly puts their meeting to an end.

Don rushes to the hospital and sees Joan at the waiting room with her dress soaked in blood. This obviously is not how Joan wanted to spend her last day at Sterling Cooper, but like a loyal and reliable employee she is the one who stays at the waiting room until the people in charge arrives. She was also the one who called Don. Though the setting is not appropriate not to mention the circumstances, Don Draper managed to give Joan some kind words for her work at Sterling Cooper. Pryce brings Ford and Powell to the hospital expressing their sympathy for MacKendrick, which all seemed superficial when they announced that the man who just a few hours ago has the whole world in front of him now has nothing. Although the man only lost a foot, the executives find no more use for him, and just like that the young man’s career is over.

After the frenzy and commotion of the accident, Harry Crane scolds Smitty for instigating the ruckus that no one ever thought would end with bloodshed. Having been the only person to have gained a promotion from the most recent reorganization, Harry is the one most concerned about their agency getting the wrath of their mother company due to the unfortunate accident. Roger Sterling surprises the mad men with his lack of sympathy to the man who has lost his foot, and even cracking a joke about it.

Sally Draper is having trouble sleeping, and has become quite afraid of the dark. Moreover, the young girl is aloof around her baby brother Gene, which worries Betty. Betty’s solution is to buy her a doll that she attests came from baby Gene for he wants nothing more but for her to be his friend. Later that night, Don finds the doll in the bushes, and returns it to his daughter’s bedroom, as she lies there asleep. Soon her screaming fills the house waking everybody including baby Gene. Don rushes to his daughter and calms her down, but the young girl resumes her screaming as Betty arrives carrying baby Gene with her. Apparently, Sally sees baby Gene as the reincarnation of her departed grandfather who shares the same name as her newborn brother not to mention looks like him and sleeps in his room. Don assures her daughter that Gene is just a baby, and that there is no such thing as ghosts. Betty is convinced that Sally is jealous of her baby brother, but Don believes his daughters explanation. He asks Betty to change the name of their newborn child, but the woman is adamant about keeping the memory of his father alive through their youngest son. In an attempt to stop his daughter from being afraid of her baby brother, Don brings Sally to baby Gene’s room to show her that her brother is only a child.

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