Episode 4.08: The Summer Man
Approximately Monday, June 14 through Sunday, June 20, 1965 (Gene’s birthday is June 21, which is a Monday, so the party on Sunday is the day before; all work days are in the week preceding the birthday party, but it is not clear whether or not they are consecutive.)
Day 1: Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday
The New York Athletic Club
Don dives into a swimming pool. Narration begins and we cut to him in his apartment, writing in a journal. What we hear is his journal entry.
Back at the pool, Don completes a length and coughs deeply, unable to catch his breath. In the locker room, he is exhausted.
He comes out of the NYAC in a suit, looking at the summer around him, as the Rolling Stones “Satisfaction” plays. He notices sights and smells around him.
SCDP
Don arrives at the office carrying a gym bag, smiling. He greets Miss Blankenship, who is just back from cataract surgery. He asks her to get him the number for Bethany Van Nuys.
Harry, Ken, Joey, and Stan are trying to get something out of a vending machine while Peggy and a secretary watch. Joan comes out to find out what the ruckus is. Joey is rude to her and she calls him into her office. While she speaks to him, Stan moons her through her glass office walls, but she doesn’t see. He is incredibly nasty and sexist. After he leaves, Peggy cuts through Joan’s office, which upsets Joan further. Then she sees that the guys, including Joey, are all laughing. She leaves.
Peggy sees Miss Blankenship carrying an armful of liquor bottles and offers to help, which Miss Blankenship appreciates, but doesn’t take her up on it. Don says he doesn’t need the liquor and sends her to return it and get cigarettes.
Miss Blankenship tells Don that “his wife” (he corrects her) called. He can’t have the kids this weekend because of Gene’s birthday party on Sunday.
Harris apartment
Joan comes home and sees Greg’s suitcase. She’s early; she hadn’t wanted to see him pack. He has an Army haircut and is about to leave for basic training. Trying to comfort her, he mentions her “friends at work” and she breaks down crying. He starts to make love to her.
Don’s apartment
Don prepares Dinty Moore Beef Stew and drinks a Budweiser in front of the television, watching news about Vietnam and journaling.
Day 2: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
New York Athletic Club
As the journal narration continues, Don is back in the pool.
SCDP
Ken, Stan, Peggy and Don meet about Mountain Dew. The client is unhappy. Ken pours Don a drink. Since Mountain Dew needs new artwork, Don calls Joan in to manage assignments. As they wait for her, Don sees Peggy drinking and everything goes silent for him; he sips his drink and is lost in his own senses. Then Joan comes in; he asks her to make Joey full time for a couple of weeks. She says that she’s been “hearing complaints about him,” and he’s rude to the women.
In his office, Harry tells Joey that he should try out for a part on Peyton Place. Peggy brings him out to talk to him, and Joey tells Peggy that Harry was hitting on him. She asks him what he did to Joan and tells him she’s important, and to be careful around her. Joey’s not having it.
Barbetta restaurant
Henry and Betty greet Ralph Steuben, a political operative working for John Lindsay. It’s post-theater. Betty spots Don and Bethany in the dining room. Henry sees where she’s looking but there’s no choice.
Bethany complains that Don isn’t getting close to her because they don’t see each other enough. Henry greets them and Don introduces Bethany to Henry and Betty. Betty is frozen.
At their table, the waiter brings Betty a drink; she knocks most of it back in a gulp. Then she goes to the ladies room and hides in the stall, upset and sweating. The political conversation is about Congressman John Lindsay possibly running for president in 1972 and Henry becoming his campaign manager.
In the car on the way home she and Henry argue. He’s disgusted by her drinking and her sulking about Don. She continues to sulk and pout. He questions the wisdom of their marriage.
In a cab, Don and Bethany kiss. She opens his pants, grins at him, and goes down on him. The narration begins again, we see Don in his robe, writing, and the narration carries us back to the cab with Bethany. She gets out of the cab and he thinks of all the women at the Barbizon.
Don’s apartment
The narration continues as we see Don stretched out to sleep.
Friday, June 18
SCDP
Don arrives at work and hears Faye have a loud argument in the pay phone booth. She is clearly breaking up with someone.
Ossining
Betty wakes up to find Henry about to leave. She apologizes to him but he is cool. As he starts the car, he sees boxes labeled “Draper” in front of him, and purposely hits them with the car before backing out of the garage.
SCDP
Joey mixes a vodka and Mountain Dew and tells Peggy it’s really good. Stan and the nameless guy from Episode 4.05 come up. This is part of a creative process; they’re making a cocktail as part of an ad campaign. They watch as Joan knocks on Lane’s door.
Joan tells Lane that Joey is on full-time for three weeks. She doesn’t like the vending machine, but Lane does.
In the creative area, Joey starts sketching a dirty picture of Joan and Lane, Peggy tells him not to but he ignores her. She tells them to come up with at least three cocktails and walks away.
Don receives a call from Henry, who wants Don’s things out of the garage. They arrange for Don to come at noon on Saturday, while Henry implies strongly that Don should not come to Gene’s birthday on Sunday. Don stares at his liquor, looks at his watch, and asks Miss Blankenship for coffee.
Peggy enters Joan’s office to complain about the vending machine. They both notice a dirty picture (the one Joey did) taped to Joan’s window. She confronts Joey, Stan, and Nameless Guy but no one admits doing it. She chews them all out.
Peggy takes the drawing to Don, complaining about Joey. Don insists she handle it herself, explaining the politics of it (she shouldn’t have him handle Joey for her). He tells her to fire Joey or yell at him as she sees fit. Miss Blankenship buzzes that Faye is there and Peggy leaves.
Peggy calls Joey into her office and tells him to apologize to Joan. His response is to tell her that women have no sense of humor. She fires him. He grabs her shoulder but she won’t change her mind. He dumps a box of files onto the floor, uses the box to pack, and says goodbye to the guys. Stan makes a nasty remark about women.
Don and Faye are working on Filmore Auto Parts. Don asks Faye to dinner, she suggests a future date is more appropriate than just grabbing a bite after work. He agrees, and asks her to dinner for Saturday. She says yes. The meeting ends.
Saturday, June 19
Ossining
Betty is draining pasta when Francine arrives. Betty tells Francine that Henry is mad at her. She’s worried that Don will come to the party, and tells Francine about seeing Don at the restaurant.
SCDP
Joan and Peggy get in the elevator at the end of the day. Peggy tells Joan that she fired Joey. Joan is nasty to Peggy and explains that firing Joey doesn’t solve the problem.
Don’s apartment
Don is journaling. The narration continues as we see Don arrive in Ossining. His boxes are piled curbside and Henry is mowing the lawn, resolutely not acknowledging Don. The camera moves to the apartment, and then Don is in the car, watching Henry on the lawn. He drives back to the city and dumps the boxes into a dumpster. The narration continues through it all.
Ossining
Henry comes in from mowing the lawn, throws his sweaty shirt into the laundry, and walks silently past Betty. She’s icing a crooked cake and just looks at him.
Don’s apartment
He pours himself a small sip of a drink before going out.
The outdoor seating area of a restaurant
Don greets Faye. She remarks that he smells like chlorine and he tells her he’s been swimming. She’s captivated by his description. She tells him her father is a candy store owner with mob connections. They discuss Gene’s upcoming birthday. As they talk, he puts his coat over her shoulders. She’s still wearing it when they get into the cab.
In the cab, they kiss passionately. His body language shows he’s much more excited by her than he was by Bethany. She’s ready to go home with him, but he’s not ready to go that far yet. He’ll take her home in the cab. She’s surprised. They continue to make out.
Sunday, June 20
Don’s apartment, then NYAC
Don wakes up alone, then goes swimming. He’s stronger and races a younger swimmer.
Ossining
The kids are playing musical chairs when Don arrives carrying a giant elephant. Betty tells Henry it’s okay, picks up Gene, hands him to Don, goes back and kisses her husband. Don laughs and lifts the baby as Betty stares at him.
