Episode 3.12: The Grown-Ups
November 21–25, 1963
November 21
Sterling Cooper
Pete is lying on his couch when Hildy wakes him with hot cocoa, telling him that Lane wishes to see him. They are both bundled up; obviously the heat in the office isn’t working. Pete complains that his cocoa is instant, then apologizes for complaining.
Lane tells Pete that he will not be made head of accounts; he will be under Ken, although his title will be inflated so he won’t be embarrassed in front of his accounts. Pete shakes his hand, walks back to his office stunned and dejected, and then leaves, telling Hildy he doesn’t feel well.
In the lobby, Peggy and Karen, her roommate, return from their lunch. Karen complains about Duck, whom Peggy is still seeing and who visits the apartment sometimes.
Mona Sterling’s apartment
Margaret shows Mona the very expensive earrings that Jane has given her. Mona is cool, Margaret complains bitterly about Jane and is tearful. She doesn’t want to get married, she’s whining, and Mona sends her to her room. Margaret calls Roger and complains about Jane. He asks to speak to Mona, they discuss that Roger had forbidden Jane to see Margaret, and so the inappropriate gift was news to him. After getting off the phone, he calls Jane in. Roger yells at her and she burst into tears and storms into the bathroom, locking the door.
Campbell apartment
Peter is poking at food when Trudy comes in. At first he says he got fired and then explains. Trudy asks if he lost his temper and begins to strategize. Pete wants to call Duck but she stops him.
Draper residence
Betty wakes when Baby Gene cries; she sees Don isn’t in bed, and finds him holding the baby. She had thought he left. She thanks him and takes the baby from him.
November 22
Sterling Cooper
Paul and Peggy are meeting in Peggy’s office. The offices are now overheated. Duck calls. He wants to meet at his hotel room. Peggy makes an excuse, but Paul slyly says “I know a nooner when I hear one.”
Pete enters Harry’s office, where the TV is perpetually on. Pete tells Harry his bad news; Harry already knew. The TV, in the background, has the first news of the Kennedy assassination, but they continue to talk and don’t notice.
Don enters Lane’s office, angry that he declined to hire an art director.
The Elyseé
Duck is staring at the TV; Cronkite is reporting that Kennedy has been shot. When he hears Peggy’s knock, he unplugs the TV. She comes in and they immediately begin to make out.
Sterling Cooper
Don insists he can’t work without a head of the art department. Lane is adamant. Don leaves to speak with Cooper. Lane takes a call and expresses shock.
In Harry’s office, the news continues in the background unnoticed while they go on discussing office politics. Suddenly the whole office piles in to see Harry’s TV and they all watch the news.
Don walks through the offices, hearing dozens of phones ringing unanswered as everyone clusters around the news. He asks what’s going on.
Draper residence
Betty, eyes wide and moist, watches the news as it is announced that President Kennedy is dead. Carla comes in. Carla immediately asks for the news, Betty tells her; both women cry. Carla sis down next to Betty and smokes a cigarette. Sally puts a comforting arm around her mother.
The Elyseé
Duck and Peggy lay in bed after making love, and Duck confesses he wants to watch the news. He plugs in the TV and they see Cronkite announce that the word is now official and Kennedy is dead. Peggy, who had been on her way over when the first reports came in, has no idea what happened. Duck immediately calls his kids.
Mona Sterling’s apartment
Margaret, in her wedding dress, weeps that it’s all ruined.
Draper residence
Don comes in. The TV news is on, the kids are watching alone. Betty comes in, crying, they hug. He tells her to lie down, he’ll handle the kids. He tells the kids to turn off the news, but they ignore him. He tells the kids everything’s going to be okay and explains a little to them.
Later, Don goes to bed. Betty is asleep. He takes a couple of pills.
November 23
Draper residence
Betty is in her robe, watching Cronkite, the kids are there. Don tells Betty to get ready for the wedding, she thinks maybe it’s been canceled, but Don says he can’t call Roger and ask that, so they go.
Campbell apartment
Pete doesn’t understand anything and doesn’t want to go to the wedding. Trudy says they have to go anyway. Pete insists his coworkers are happy about the assassination and are behaving hypocritical. He says he won’t go, and finally she agrees; they curl up on the couch to watch TV together.
Margaret’s wedding
Jennifer Crane is telling Don and Betty about how frustrating it was to be a telephone operator when the lines were so clogged up with calls the day before. The wedding has very few guests and they’re rearranging the seating. Roger takes the microphone and manages to get a laugh.
Mona’s date appears to suggest bombing Texas in retaliation.
Betty sees Henry arrive. She says “of course” to herself. She watches the beautiful woman who greets him, and shows visible relief when she calls Henry “Daddy.”
In the kitchen, Cooper, Jane, Ken, Harry, and some others watch Oswald on TV. Roger comes in and sends them to buy a cake since their cake isn’t being delivered. He wants Jane to come back out but she refuses.
Roger goes back out to give a toast, and again gets a laugh. He praises Mona, acknowledges the pain of the day, and brings the focus back to the bride and groom. It is masterful. Dancing begins. Betty isn’t sure she wants to dance, but Don gets up and brings her to the dance floor. Don gazes at Betty with affection but she looks around, distracted. He kisses her and tries to comfort her, but she again looks for Henry. Meanwhile Pauline notices that Henry is looking at Betty. As they leave, Henry and Betty see each other again, but do not acknowledge each other.
Roger Sterling’s home
Roger carries a very drunk Jane to bed over his shoulder. Seeing she is completely passed out, he phones Joan. He just wants to hear someone say the right thing about this, and Joan points out that he’s so upset because he can’t find humor in this; it’s not funny.
November 24
Draper residence
Betty is watching the news, Don is in the kitchen. Betty sees Oswald get shot; she screams and jumps up. Then she leaves. Sally asks what happened, Don doesn’t have an answer, and says “nothing”
Later, Don is asleep on the couch. Betty wakes him to tell him she’s going out. Don wants to go with her, she says no. Soon we see she’s meeting Henry in a parking lot somewhere. He tells her he wants to marry her. They kiss.
Campbell apartment
Pete and Trudy watch slow-motion of Oswald being shot. Trudy’s attitude has now changed, she no longer wants Pete to play the Sterling Cooper game, she tells himto gather his clients.
Draper residence
Don is watching the news when Betty comes in. She says she doesn’t love him, he says she’ll feel better tomorrow and walks out of the room.
In the bedroom, Don looks stricken, horrified, which he had not allowed to show in front of Betty.
November 25
Draper residence
Don spies at Betty and the kids before coming into the kitchen. Betty says nothing; it is a cold silence between them.
Sterling Cooper
The office is empty and dark, but Peggy is typing away. Don startles her. She’s fixing Aqua Net; the pictures in the car suddenly look different. They talk. Peggy goes to watch the funeral in Cooper’s office. Don declines to join her and pours himself a drink alone.
The closing song is The End of the World by Skeeter Davis (1962)
