Episode 2.01: For Those Who Think Young
Don
Takes his shirt off and it is revealed he’s in a doctor’s office. The nurse, Lily, says “You’re a big one’ Don is having a physical for insurance purposes.
Don’s blood pressure is 160/100. He describes the circumstances of both his parent’s death”his real parents. He lies about his drinking, admitting (under pressure) to 5 drinks a day and 2 packs of cigarettes. The doctor says he’s living too hard, prescribes reserpine for hypertension, and phenobarbital for relaxation.
At the office, we see that Don is having a lock (or perhaps a new lock) installed on his door.
After the doctor’s appointment, we see Don eat lunch (steak and eggs, and a drink) in a bar. He sees a young academic type (curly hair, glasses) reading Meditations in an Emergency. Don strikes up a conversation about the book, the guy puts him off, treating him as if he’s too stodgy to appreciate poetry.
Don arrives and Lois tells him about his noon meeting. He has that ‘Oh, no, I can’t believe I forgot’ look. Don is so late that the ice has all melted and Dale has fallen asleep. Paul makes a sarcastic remark, and then starts eating. No one is ready to present; Paul presents with his mouth full, offering a bunch of Indian puns for Mohawk Airlines, with no art.
Then Dale presents, with Peggy. Don, who is “uninvolved,” discusses travel as adventure and the unknown, and wants new work tomorrow.
Duck Philips comes in to see Roger, he wants Roger to get Don to hire young writers for Martinson’s coffee. They discuss Don in disparaging terms. Later, Roger tells Don that Cooper wants younger people for Martinson’s. Don downs some pills. He isn’t fooled, he knows the desire for younger people is coming from Duck. He tries to explain why it’s terribly wrong-headed, because young people suck, but Roger insists.
The next day (or thereafter?) Don interviews two strange young men, both named Smith, and seems to feel baffled by them.
Later, Don and Duck have a brief but unpleasant confrontation about bringing in youth.
Don is reading Meditations in an Emergency when Sal and Peggy come in with another concept for Mohawk. Don asks where Dale is, and Sal says he’s “sick” in a tone that seems to say “hung over.” Don is bored with the ad concept. He says “It’s obvious…I’m uninvolved.” Then he focuses on a child in the drawing. They discuss sentiment, advertising, monkey crap, and what it is that sells an ad.
Peggy comes up with “What did you bring me Daddy?” as a tagline.
On the elevator, two young men are discussing sex in an explicit way, and continue when a woman gets into the elevator. Don notices they are making her uncomfortable and tells one of them to take his hat off, then grabs it off his head and hands it to him.
That night, Don comes home to Carla (the housekeeper) and Bobby. Betty, Carla says, is picking up Sally at ballet. Carla sees Don pour himself a drink and declines a ride to the station. Bobby doesn’t like his dinner, Don eats it.
Don is in his office, reading the O’Hara. As he reads aloud from the poem “Mayakovsky” in narration, we see him write “Made me think of you. -D” in the book. He mails it to an unknown recipient while he is out walking Polly.
Betty (including Betty & Don)
Betty is taking riding lessons. She and her friend Sarah Beth, discuss their daughters; Sarah Beth is upset that her daughter is skipping lunch and hoarding the dimes, but Betty says she should be glad Becky watches her weight. A young man on horseback smiles at them. Sarah Beth admits to talking with him, asks if Betty is scandalized. Betty gets into her car without cleaning her boots.
Betty arrives home in her riding clothes, carrying groceries. Sally helps her off with her boots, but Betty won’t allow her to ride. She talks to Sally about Valentines and mentions the punch on Sally’s face; she stresses that Sally needs a bath. Sally has made a Valentine for her father; Betty says “I’ll see he gets it.”
That night, at the Savoy Hotel, the back of Don’s head waits for Betty, as beautiful music plays. He looks pensive and notices an older man with a much younger woman. Betty comes down the stairs, like a dream, in slo-mo, as the music swells. He kisses her, she turns her head, offering her cheek. He smiles, impressed by her appearance, and she says “Happy Valentines Day.”
Betty recognizes the younger woman as Juanita Carson, her former roommate. Juanita calls her Betsy Hofstadt. Betty wants Juanita’s phone number; everyone looks awkward. Don finally forks over a business card for Betty to write her number on and give to Juanita. After they part, Don tells Betty that Juanita is “a party girl,” Betty is shocked and confused.
Don surprises Betty by taking her up to a room he’s already booked; she shows him something in her purse, saying “I came prepared.” Betty talks about Juanita, seeming fascinated.
Betty comes out in sexy lingerie, showing off, Don says “Wow.” But later, Don is unable to perform. Betty does not appear surprised, but definitely seems disgruntled.
Betty suggests eating and Don calls room service. He orders, she changes it, then changes it again, so he hands her the phone. Don turns on the TV and sees Jackie’s White House tour. He’s not interested but she tells him to leave it.
The next day, Betty and Francine are discussing the White House documentary, while Betty folds up outgrown clothes for Francine’s baby. Betty lies and says she didn’t see it because they had “no time for television.” Then Betty tells Francine about Juanita, only in this version, Betty knew all along what Juanita was. Francine references BUtterfield 8.
Betty pulls her car over on a quiet road at night, her engine is smoking. She flags down a car and asks them to send a tow truck.
The tow truck driver offers to replace a fan belt for nine dollars, Betty only has three and change. She asks him to help her out in a flirtatious way that seems to promise intimacy. He replaces the fan belt and holds tightly to her hand when he takes her money. She pulls away and leaves.
When Betty and Sally get home, Sally is excited to see Polly before noticing Daddy. Betty lies to Don about why she is late. They watch Sally do her ballet.
Joan
A giant Xerox machine is being delivered, Joan doesn’t know where to put it. The secretaries don’t want it in the break room. Paul doesn’t want it in an office because they’re already doubling up.
Joan is summoned into Roger’s office. They have a tense conversation about her new boyfriend, a doctor. Roger admits to vicarious pleasure at teasing her, seeing her, and even, perhaps, being jealous. Joan sadly but seriously says that Roger loves Mona.
That night, she’s making out on the couch with her doctor boyfriend, but she wants to watch the White House tour. He wants to make out instead, but she keeps one eye on the TV.
The next day, Joan considers placing the Xerox in the hall. She speaks to Lois, telling her that crying in the break room is forbidden. Joan insists Lois speak of “Miss Olson” with respect.
Sterling Cooper
At a lunchtime conference, the sandwiches are there, looking tempting, but none of those present are willing to eat before Don arrives (we know, but they do not, that Don is in a bar). Ken dives in as Paul arrives, late, but pleased that he was right that Don would be late”can this mean Don is often late these days?
The meeting consists of Paul, Ken, Harry, Dale, Peggy, Salvatore, and Freddy.
Peggy offers crackers from her desk.
Ken gets Freddy a drink. Ken asks Peggy about glasses, treating her like a “girl,” and then Freddy sends her to see where Don is. Paul allows as how Draper won’t yell at her.
The guys speculate why Peggy has a “charmed career” as Pete comes in. Pete insists it’s a “fat farm.”
The next day: Ken, Sal, Paul, Pete, Harry meet in the bullpen so they can spy on Don. They congratulate Harry about Jennifer’s pregnancy; Harry is concerned that things will change in his marriage, but is happy. They see two young men being shown in and they gossip about Don and Duck and office politics. Peggy comes up, unhappy that she’s been excluded from a meeting.
Later: Peggy, Pete, Salvatore and Harry meet about the Clearasil account. Paul comes in, upset that Sterling Cooper is bringing in younger people. Peggy is offended that she doesn’t “count” as young even though she’s only 22.
Ken comes in to take Harry out to celebrate his wife’s pregnancy, Sal joins them. Pete says to Peggy “Kids. What’s the big deal?” He asks Peggy if she wants kids. Peggy stiffens and says “eventually.” Pete seems pleased and relieved.
Peggy
Peggy stands up for herself when Ken asks her for bar glasses, but succumbs when Freddie sends her to find out where Don is.
Peggy asks Lois when Don is expected. She confronts Lois about the way she speaks about Mr. Draper. She persists in asking Lois where Mr. Draper is until she answers professionally, while Lois becomes visibly upset.
The following day, after the meeting with Pete (see Sterling Cooper) Peggy returns to her office to find the door block. Joan has put the Xerox machine in her office and someone is copying his face. She looks disgusted and angry.
Pete and Trudy
Pete comes home with Valentine’s candy for Trudy, and immediately criticizes her for putting a note where Hildy would find it. Then he tells her to open the candy so he can have one; she opens the lid, hands the box to him. He grabs one and complains it’s coconut. (At this point, I am thinking “just kill him.”) Then Trudy, with a quaver in her voice, says Jennifer Crane is expecting. Pete says “That’s impossible. Harry didn’t say anything.” Because, y’know, it’s still all about Pete.
Trudy begins crying. She has forgotten to prepare dinner in time. Pete tries to comfort her, calls her Tweety. (Which warms my heart.) Trudy says she’s jealous of a random woman on the street because she had two kids and was pregnant. Pete encourages her to have a piece of candy and makes her laugh.
As we cut from household to household watching the White House tour, we end with Pete, watching something else, alone, while devouring the candy.
Salvatore
Salvatore watches the White House tour, fascinated, at home with a wife. “Where’s her husband?” he asks.
