Episode 3.09: Wee Small Hours
Wednesday, August 28 through Wednesday, September 18, 1963 (key events including the “Career Girl Murders,” the “I Have a Dream” speech, and the funeral of the Birmingham bombing victims allow us to pinpoint exact dates).
Wednesday, August 28, 1963
Ossining, NY: The Draper residence
Betty lays down on her fainting couch and is caressed and gently undressed by a man who is revealed to be Henry Francis. The phone rings; we see that it was a dream; Betty and Don are asleep. The phone wakes the baby as Don answers. It is Connie Hilton, who talks about prayer and wants Don to take Hilton’s international business. Betty comes back to bed with the baby; Don, realizing he can’t get back to sleep, gets up to go into the office. Driving in the dark, he sees Suzanne Farrell running and offers her a ride. They hear the I Have a Dream speech on the radio, and Suzanne says she’s going to teach it when schools starts. The radio also mentions two girls murdered in their Upper East Side apartment. Don wants Suzanne to have coffee with him, but she gets out of the car.
Sterling Cooper
Alison comes into Don’s office; he’s asleep on the couch. She jumps when he wakes up, and he sends her for coffee and to have Hilton’s work typed up.
The Draper residence
Carla comes in out of a heavy rainstorm as Betty and the kids have breakfast. Betty sees an article about Goldwater in ’64. She tells Carla she didn’t sleep. At her desk, Betty writes a note “Henry”does anyone else read this? B.” Then she pulls out her list of addresses from the Junior League, finds Henry’s, and begins to address the envelope.
Sterling Cooper
Peggy, Smitty, and Kurt present ideas for Hilton. Don doesn’t like any, including his own. He needs more help and more ideas.
TV Studio
Lee Garner, Jr. insists that Pete smoke, he chokes. Lee watches them film a fisherman staring off into the horizon smoking. Sal wants the thousand yard stare, but Garner insists that the actor stare into the camera.
Approximately September 3 (school usually starts the day after Labor Day)
Ossining
It’s pre-dawn. Don drives past the spot where he saw Suzanne running, but she’s not there.
In the afternoon, the kids come home from their first day of school, and are greeted by Carla and Betty. Betty sees there’s a letter from Henry, and doesn’t even notice the baby crying. The letter says “Betty, You asked if anyone reads my mail. Not anymore. H.” followed by an address. She smiles and puts the letter in her purse.
Sally wants a pencil case.
Sterling Cooper
Lee Jr., Sal, and an editor look at the commercial. The editor leaves to re-record the sound. Lee admits he’s drunk. He starts caressing Sal, Sal pushes him off. Garner insists, Sal says no and insist Garner leave. When he does, Sal throws film canisters in rage and fear.
The Draper residence
The kids watch TV, we see Betty looking off into space as she composes a letter to Henry in her head, after she puts the kids to bed, we see her actually write and send the letter. Then we see her in a chair, wine in hand, asleep when Don comes in.
Sterling Cooper
It’s late, Harry and Paul are watching TV and eating. Lee Garner Jr. calls and insists that Sal be fired. Lee wants Harry to fire Sal himself and not tell Roger or Pete. Paul insists that Harry tell him what the conversation was about. Harry decides to do nothing.
The Draper residence
At 11:30pm, Don stares at the ceiling unable to sleep when Connie calls and invites him to come have a drink.
The Waldorf
Connie pours Don a drink. Connie’s in his shirt sleeves, Don’s in a suit. Connie says he’s in a crisis. They talk about the campaign, but Connie also talks about being lonely, and says Don is like a son. Don is very moved by this.
Day 3: Early September
The Draper residence
Betty is doing laundry when the doorbell rings; to her shock, it’s Henry. She’s flustered and she expects Carla back soon. He takes her hand for a moment but they’re both nervous and afraid of getting caught. Carla arrives and Betty flounders for an excuse. Henry covers by saying there will be a fundraiser at the house, and Betty plays along. Carla doesn’t seem to buy any of it.
Sterling Cooper
Harry, Sal, Roger, and a secretary named Lucy are in the conference room when Pete comes in with Lee Garner, Jr. Garner takes one look at Sal and walks out without a word. Harry explains what happened. Roger chews Harry out and then fires Sal. Roger sends Harry to have Don “fix it.” Harry and Sal go to Don. Don kicks Harry out and asks Sal what happened. Don pushes Sal to tell him the truth and Sal finally tells him. Don is disgusted, doesn’t believe Sal, and says goodbye to him. He is fired.
The Draper residence
It is evening. Betty tells Carla she can leave. When Don comes in, Betty makes a show of telling Don about the fundraiser. Don says okay and goes to lie down. Carla looks uncomfortable and leaves.
Sterling Cooper
Sal is putting his artwork together, says goodnight to Marty, and begins to cry.
The Draper residence
Betty phones Henry and suggests Tuesday, September 17 as a date for the fundraiser. Henry is surprised she’s going through with it, but she whispers that she had to.
Tuesday, September 17
Sterling Cooper
In the conference room, Don presents the international campaign to Hilton, showing the “how do you say” artwork. Hilton likes it, but he wants the moon in the campaign. Hilton kicks everyone out so he can speak with Don in private. Don immediately defends his campaign. He is flustered. Hilton says he’s “deeply disappointed” and walks out.
The Draper residence
Everyone is gathered for the fundraiser. The women discuss the march on Washington and segregation while Carla gets the door, welcoming a woman named Elsa Kittridge, who works with Henry. Betty is very disappointed but things go on.
Wednesday, September 18
Ossining, then Albany
Betty packs up the money and drives it to Henry, then throws it at him. She’s angry that he didn’t come; he says she had to come to him because she’s married. She sees he’s right. They kiss passionately. Then she realizes how tawdry it all is, and says no, and leaves.
Sterling Cooper
Roger comes into Don’s office. Roger is upset that important clients are leaving angry because Don is cutting Accounts out of his work. He storms out.
The Draper residence
Carla listens to the funeral of the the girls killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham. Betty offers Carla a day off because of how horrifying it is. Then she says “maybe civil rights isn’t supposed to happen right now.” Don comes in and she tells him the children just went up to bed.
New York City: The Rambles in Central Park
Sal calls Kitty, pretending he’s still employed, and tells her not to wait up.
Ossining
Don goes up to bed, Betty is asleep. He looks tired, anxious. He wakes Betty and tells her that Hilton just called and he’s going in, although the phone didn’t ring.
Don knocks at Suzanne’s door. She lets him in, afraid someone will see him. He says he’s been thinking about her for two weeks, since he first saw her running. She says it will end badly, he pulls her close to him. They kiss. Later, in bed, he’s sound asleep with his arms around her.
Prelude to a Kiss is sung over the closing credits.
