Trama

Megan throws Don a surprise birthday party, the war between Pete Campbell and Roger Sterling intensifies, and new mother Joan begins to wonder if she still has a job when she's ready to come back.

The finances at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce are stable, although not overly flush. There are some staff changes, including Megan, now Mrs. Draper, moving into a junior creative position. But most of those staff changes are the result of Joan being on a temporary leave having just given birth. With Greg still in military service, Joan has some assistance from her visiting mother, who often doesn't provide Joan with the support she wants or needs. One change that Pete, as account manager, would like to see is Roger having less control and say in the day to day operations, especially in front line dealings with customers. Pete is especially bothered when Roger shows up unannounced and uninvited to client meetings. Meanwhile, Don's fortieth birthday is approaching. Going through his Rolodex for potential invitees, Megan, at the last minute, plans a surprise birthday party for him, despite advice from Peggy that Don doesn't like such surprises. At the party, Megan's gift to Don causes a bit of an uproar, especially among the Draper's work colleagues.—Huggo

Don Draper and Megan are now married. She's still working at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, in the creative department under Peggy Olson. She decides to throw a surprise party for Don's 40th birthday but he is aghast and hates it. Everyone except Don seems to have had a good time and the newlyweds have a serious argument about it. For his part, Roger is concerned about his standing in the firm since the loss of the Lucky Strike account. He makes a point of dropping in on Pete's meetings with clients. Joan Harris has given birth to a baby boy and has taken some time off from work. Her mother is visiting to help out but Joan is exhausted from lack of sleep. Peggy makes her pitch to Heinz on a new campaign for baked beans. It doesn't go very well.—garykmcd

"Mad Men" - "A Little Kiss" - March 25, 2012

It is late May 1966 and change is coming to Manhattan.

We open on a picket line. Mostly black folks are carrying picket signs alongside a few white people and clergrymen, protesting for fair hiring practices. We cut to an office a few floors up full of white guys annoyed by the noise they are making. One guy yells down "get a job." Another gets the bright idea to dump water on them. Then they start dropping water bombs and giggling. A few of the protesters come up to, um, protest. The receptionist says that since this is the executive floor it's not possible that someone is doing that on this level. Then the guys come running out with bags full of water and giggling. They are chagrined when they see the black woman, one holding the hand of a little boy who is drenched.

Sally's alarm clock sounds. She walks through a house that is clearly not finished being moved into yet. There are boxes scattered about, photos on floor, paintings yet to be hung. She tries the door to one room and Don answers in his jammies. She thought it was the bathroom. He asks if she wants breakfast. She says yes. She notes Megan's nearly naked figure on the bed.

Don makes breakfast for his kids. They present him with a lathering brush for shaving, it's from a badger tale says Bobby. Megan enters and asks the plan for the day. He says they're going to the Statue of Liberty. Bobby says he always says that but they never go. Later, Don drops them off at Henry and Betty's enormous house. He tells Sally to give Morticia and lurch his love. Bobby asks how old Don will be: 40. Testing Bobby's math skills he asks how old Don will be when Bobby is 40. Bobby notes Don will be dead. He then figures he'll be 70.

Pete is on the morning train chatting with a buddy. He notes that Trudy is getting back to herself after having the baby. The friend, Howard, talks about how you can keep pushing your return train home over time and if you learn to drive never come home. He intimates he and his wife are having trouble and sometimes he just wants to be alone with his thoughts. "She asked me what I do at work all day," he says incredulously. Pete says they don't understand. Howard notes it's nothing "a little piece" wouldn't fix.

At Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (SCDP) Roger harasses Caroline, the secretary he shares with Don. He wishes she'd act more like his secretary. She says Don's phone rings more than Roger's. He throws some cash at her to buy a "fancy hat" and tells her to let her conscience be her guide.

We cut to a close up of a baby's butt. Joan is putting lotion on it. We meet her harridan of a mom who has come to help her but also be a passive aggressive pain in her ass. She notes they're about to run out of formula and takes a $10 from Joan's purse to get more. Joan wonders if that ten is for the baby's formula or her mother's. Mom ignores this and says she'll take him for a walk. A grateful Joan collapses on the bed.

At work Stan, Ken, and Peggy meet in Pete's office and report that they are ready for the Heinz meeting. They're just waiting for Mrs. Draper's coupons, she's not in yet even though it's 11. The perks of being married to Don. (Megan has been promoted to the art/copy department.)

Roger flirts with Pete's secretary Clara and distracts her while Pete is trying to get her attention.

Megan and Don arrive. Don is very late for the 10 a.m. status meeting so he Roger, Pete, and Lane have an impromptu meeting. They joke about the troubles that rival ad firm Young and Rubicam (Y&R) is having from the paper bag water drops on the picket line. They note that it serves them right for stealing the Pond's account. Roger wants to run a want ad saying that SCDP is an equal opportunity employer. Lane says they can't spend money to further Y&Rs' embarrassment. Pete doesn't see the humor in any of it. Don notes the upcoming meeting with Heinz, Lane is having lunch at the Four A's, there's a meeting with Oldsmobile and they've nabbed Chevalier cologne and Butler shoes so all is well at the moment. Later, Bert wanders out of the conference room where the status meeting was supposed to be and asks Pete not to have it without him as he goes to the bathroom.

Megan comes into Don's office to show him the coupons she made for Heinz. He wants to fool around but she says if she's in his office longer than five minutes that people talk. On her way out he makes her open her shirt and she calls him, teasingly, a dirty old man.

Pete comes into Don's office and asks who he would want as a client if he could have anyone. He responds American Airlines since they stood them up. Pete asks who has those feelings about SCDP? Why Mohawk Airlines does and things haven't gone well since they cut them loose. He's going to go after them and wants Don to come to meeting. Don points out that Mohawk head Hank Lamont hit him hard on the way out and he shouldn't come into the process just yet. Pete says he'll call him in when the time comes and Don commends the thought of going after them.

In the art room Megan shows Peggy her coupons and Peggy commends her efforts but also is dismissive of them. Peggy asks Stan to dress them up to look like legal tender with the beans in the middle where Washington goes. He leaves.

Megan tells Peggy she's throwing a surprise 40th birthday party for Don and needs her help with the invite list. It's Tuesday and the party will be on Saturday. Peggy is skeptical saying men don't like surprises and asks if Megan didn't ever see "I Love Lucy" in Canada. Megan says Peggy's never seen her throw a party, and everyone is going to go home and have sex. Peggy notes that should be fun for the guests and looks over the invite list. She notes that Freddy Rumsen doesn't come to parties and that she has to invite Harry. Megan spills that Don doesn't like him. She also notes that Don has six numbers for a man named Herman Phillips. Peggy notes quickly that that's Duck and crosses him off the list.

Joan sleeps and momma returns with the baby. Apparently, he was fussy but the elevator ride knocked him out as usual. Joan says she can't believe how good her mom is at this. Her mom says she will be too one day. Joan asks when she's leaving. Her mom laments, clearly not for the first time, that Joan is going back to work at all, especially since her husband is a doctor. Joan says she promised and that soon Greg will be stationed at Fort Dix and she can commute from New Jersey. Her mom says she'll feel sick inside leaving the baby. Joan says she knows, but doesn't want to break her promise and notes her mother worked. Her mom says Greg probably won't allow her to work. Joan is all "allow??" Her mother than says "whither thou goest I will go." Joan asks her pointedly, "And how did that work out for you?"

Pete arrives to Mohawk meeting and is annoyed to find Roger already there half in his cups. He nudges Roger back to the office. But not before it's noted that Y&R is getting flack about the water bomb incident. Roger notes that it "couldn't have happened to a better bunch of bigots." Roger heads off and the Mohawk guys note how much they love him.

It's time for the presentation to the Heinz folks on the strategy for their beans.

Peggy presents them with storyboards for a commercial: a bean ballet. With Stan hummng a waltz she explains how with high-speed photography it will be able to look like the beans are dancing with each other in the air before they drop into a can of delicious sause. Tagline: the art of suppe.

The Heinz guy, Raymond, is sweet and smiley during the presentation but he thinks the idea is too artistic and won't attract the college kids he wants. He doesn't want people to think about war and the Depression when they think beans, he wants college kids to get excited about warming them up on their dorm hotplates. Don has entered to help close at this point but he realizes the futility of that endeavor and says they'll try again. Raymond wonders if they can't have a protest theme with picketers holding signs that say "We want beans!" Don says they'll work on it.

Peggy's mad that Don didn't stick up for her idea but he points out that it wouldn't have made sense to waste the time and since this wasn't business they pitched it's within Heinz's rights to make them work for it and they'll get them next time. Peggy sits, frustrated.

Pete returns in a state, mad at Clara. He walks into his office and bangs his nose against the cement pole in his office. He points that when Roger hovers over her he's not looking at her breasts but Pete's calendar. He is livid, and bleeding. Ken enters and tries to calm him down. Pete isn't having it and adds he heard it didn't go well with Heinz. Ken says not to worry since things are stable right now and he's about to land Mohawk. Pete points out that "stable is that step backwards between successful and failing." Ken again says Pete knows how it works, they start with some piddling clients like Topaz, work up to good midsize stuff like Mohawk, and then get something sexy in a good neighborhood like a pharmaceutical and then if God is good they land a car company. He asks if Pete is going to Don's party. He grumbles that he is and wants overtime.

Don collects Megan even though it's not quite the end of the day. Stan asks if Don has any big weekend plans. Peggy and Megan shoot him evil looks. Don says it's Tuesday and he has no idea. Stan plays it off saying he was talking about himself saying he's entertaining his cousin who has shore leave. Don assures Stan he should assume he's working. Don and Megan leave and Peggy gives him a hard time for almost blowing it. She then grumbles some more about the Heinz meeting and that the old Don would've told the client off. She's confused by the new Don who is "kind and patient." Stan wonders why this galls her. She says she's just concerned.

Pete heads home and is met by Trudy. He grouses about having to get a cab from the train station and then says he didn't want to bother her. He complains a bit about work and how there's no fruit of his labor. She says that an acre of land, a wife, and a child. He says that has nothing to do with work but that he's grateful. She soothes him that "dissatisfaction is a symptom of ambition." She asks if he really wants a dog. He muses maybe a beagle so scare off gophers. She's suspicious of Megan's late invite to Don's party. She then says she needs to get some sleep since Tammy -- their baby-- will be up in an hour. Pete stands alone in the kitchen and eats a handful of cereal out of the box, looking bereft.

We cut to Don and Megan's swanky aparment. A band leader asks for a sotto voce at the party. Harry notes that he is very flamboyantly gay-- calling him "queer"-- and Lane's wife Becca says her reminds her of Lane's brother.

Don and Megan are making out in the hallway and they turn the corner and run into Roger and Jane spoiling the surprise. Don looks at Megan and just says "no." She forces him in and everyone yells "surprise." He smiles tightly and is gracious enough. His accountant is very excited to be included in this group of "intimates" and points out that he knew Don and Megan would get together, beaming at Megan and ignoring introducing his own wife.

In one corner Bert talks about domino theory with Abe and Stan who point out that there is no monolithic communism and says that war is good for profit. Stan's cousin, in his sailor gear, stands by Bert and Bert argues that if he comes back in a body bag it won't be for nothing. For his part the cousin simply says he thought there would be girls at the party.

At the bar Roger thanks Don for excluding Joan since he never would've heard the end of that. Harry comes up to Don and gives him a silver-handled walking stick calling it the "Steinway" of walking sticks. Roger jokes Don stick it up his ass and play a concert.

Harry goes to hit on Megan's redheaded Canadian friend. She, Megan, and the bandleader are yukking it up about something. Roger tells Don to not bother trying to figure out what they're laughing about and reassures him that all he needs to know is that it's not about Don.

Peggy and Abe dance in one corner. Megan, Becca, and Lane chat with Don. Pete snipes at Roger.

Later Peggy and Abe chat with Pete and Trudy, who says it's a lovely apartment but they you can still hear the traffic. Pete looks wistful at that. Abe explains he's a journalist at underground papers and with the riots and protests business has been good. Pete says he was taught that sex, politics and religion aren't party talk. Trudy wonders what that leaves. Peggy says "alcohol and work."

Ken and his wife asks about Jane and then Ken mentions he's going to smoke some "tea" with Megan's friends.

Megan and Don are talking to her friend the redhead who was a waitress alongside Megan and says Megan was a great actress. Megan points out not that good considering she's not doing it for a living. Peggy and Abe come by to say hi. Peggy carps to Don about not being able to stay long since she has to work on the new Heinz pitch. It is inelegant and Megan pulls Don away and even Abe is like "what are you doing?"

Megan announces that she is now drunk enough to give Don his present. She grabs a microphone and the band starts up. She sings "Zooby Zooby Zoo" for Don. The crowd reactions are great as she shimmies up on him and sings en Francais. It's very cute, sexy, and coquettish. She sits on his lap and kisses him. The crowd cheers. Roger asks why Jane doesn't sing like that and she asks why he doesn't look like Don.

When Megan finishes he toasts Megan for letting them see the Don Draper smile usually reserved for clients and in relation to Megan quotes the famous saying "the only thing worse than not getting what you want, is someone else getting it." Jane is standing right beside him as he says this.

At the end of the night, Don collapses on the bed. Megan asks if he had fun, he grouses he just wants to go to sleep. She gives him a playful smack. He tells her not to waste money on "things like that." She says it's her money. He points out that he's actually been 40 for six months. She says only he knows that, and that this is his birthday now. He is extremely grumpy and ungracious and says he doesn't like his birthday, never had it growing up and doens't want it now and forbid Betty to throw a party. He says he doesn't need to be the center of attention. She calls him on this playfully and says he's just mad about being 40. She says she loves him and that's why she threw him a party. She kisses him and he is unresponsive and blows her off. She stalks out and goes to think on the balcony.

Lane is exiting a taxi and finds a wallet. Instead of trusting the black driver to turn it in he takes it.

Don sleeps in. He wakes alone in bed. He shaves and looks remorseful.

On Monday Pete informs Lane he got Mohawk and has called partner's meeting.

Becca calls Lane and says she's concerned about a threatening note she got from their son Nigel's prep school about their bill. Lane says Nigel will get in whether the school gets the money now or later and they just want the money to collect the interest on it. As he talks to her he looks at wallet. He finds a picture of a young dish in a halter top named Delores. Becca asks Lane to get the name of Megan's real estate agent and decorator.

Back at Joan's her mom is flirting with Apollo the apartment handyman who fixed the sink. He is Greek or Italian maybe, with an accent, very hunky and holding Joan's baby. He leaves and Joan is livid saying not to hand over her baby to a man who's hands have been in toilets all over town. Her mom protests she's just trying to make sure Joan's apartment gets attention. Joan says she's never had trouble attracting attention. Her mother snipes that yes, everyone is always looking at Joan but notes that her daughter is not exactly at her "fighting weight." Joan replies "try me." She tells her mother she's free to go home anytime. Her mother then shows her the ad in the Times, Roger took out the ad saying "SCDP: Equal Opportunity Employer." Joan is a bit taken aback but points out it's not in the want ads and that the firm can't hire anyone. Her mom says she's sure her job is gone and Megan probably doesn't want Joan around her husband. Joan notes tht her mom loves to stir shit.

Don and Megan arrive at the office. She looks a little embarrassed and definitely still angry.

Caroline gives Don a plant for his birthday.

Roger approaches him shimmying and singing "Frere Jacque." Caroline says there's a partners meeting in Pete's office. Roger shows Don the ad to meant rub salt in Y&R's wound. Don then pulls him aside and says "we don't make fun of each other's wives." Roger says he wasn't making fun of Megan, he was making fun of Don because he's happy and that he wants him to be happy. He says Megan is a great girl, and that they're all great girls at least until they want something.

Don, Bert, Roger, and Lane squeeze onto the couch in Pete's office. He complains about office, reels off all of the business he's brought in, including Mohawk, and says he can't have the Mohawk meeting in this embarrassing office with the cement column. Pete wants Roger's office. Roger wants to settle the beef with a fight. Pete doesn't take the bait and Roger leaves. Don congratulates him on Mohawk and tries to appease him by saying they will buy more space. Lane puts the financial kibosh on that. Bert says it will work itself out. Pete is not satisfied.

In the kitchen, Stan and Harry dish about Megan's how at the party and Harry calls her a sex kitten. She walks in behind him and Stan tries to alert Harry by saying "Hi megan." Harry thinks he's kidding and then describes graphically what he would like to do to Megan. She pushes past him and he sputters "great party."

Lane gets call from Delores, who is after her common law husband's wallet. Lane gets drawn into a flirtation with her as he gazes at his picture. The conversation takes a weird, sexy turn.

Roger calls Harry into his office. Harry is afraid he is going to get fired for what he said about Megan. It turns out instead that Roger wants Harry to switch offices with Pete. Harry balks. Roger gives Harry $1100 to give Pete his office. Harry pushes his luck saying he'll do it but Roger will owe him. Roger says he won't because he just gave him a big wad of cash and if Harry doesn't like it they can have the conversation Harry thought they were going to have.

Joan visits the office with baby. She chats with several of the folks including the receptionist Meredith who doesn't know her. She was hired when Scarlet was enliste to cover Mr. Pryce to help do books with Clara. This is news to Joan. Don comes in and says hello and all ogle the baby. Joan says hello to Megan and says she sorry she missed the party. She hands Megan the baby and Don clearly likes this picture. Joan says it's just a matter of time for him to do this again. He kisses her and jokes that the baby "is not a good excuse" for her not to be there. She tells everyone she's returning in 3 weeks. Peggy comes out and begs off holding the baby saying her hands are dirty. Just as she sincerely asks Joan how she is, Roger arrives saying "there's my baby, move that brat out of the way so I can see her." He wonders if Joan got his gift. She points out that a bicycle is not yet useful. He holds the baby with a lit cigarette in mouth and asks if anyone ever really sees the baby with her walking next to him. He hands Peggy the baby who hands it off to Pete.

Joan goes to see Lane. He has her sit. He tells her about payroll and money problems. She's worried she's getting fired because of the ad. He explains it was a private barb directed at Y&R. She breaks down and admits missing work, missing the jokes, the company and that no one came to visit and that even though her husband is coming home soon and with the baby and her mother she still feels alone. He comforts her and reassures her that she's indispensible. They dish about the party. He shows her how Megan danced. She asks about Don's. reaction and he says "I saw his soul leave his body." She says she can't imagine how handsome he must've been blushing. Meredith arrives with baby. Lane holds him, and calls him a handsome little blackguard and then the baby farts and they laugh.

In the art room Pete enters, calls the baby darling, tells Megan the party was spectacular and Peggy makes Pete take the baby.

Peggy and Megan work and dish. She says Joan looks good. Megan notes that Joan looked good at nine months. Peggy isn't so sure about that. Megan snipes that she's surprised Peggy didn't tell her that. She lays into her for her remarks at the party. Peggy blames it on having too much to drink and how hard she's worked. Megan is aghast that Peggy can't simply apologize and then goes off on a rant wondering what is wrong with everyone there, why they're so cynical. Peggy wonders if Don is mad. Megan doesn't care and wonders who doesn't want a surprise party. She wants to go home saying she doesn't feel well. Peggy apologizes sincerely.

Pete goes into Harry's office and Harry explains about the switch. Even though he's getting a bigger office Pete says that wasn't the point. Harry tells him to just take it and just wants to find a place to hide til Megan leaves.

Peggy goes to Don and apologizes for her remarks at the party and worries he had a bad time because of it. She explains Megan was upset and left. She says she shouldn't be allowed to drink at work functions. Don puts on his jacket to leave. Peggy says she thinks Megan wants to be alone. Don says Peggy doesn't know Megan at all.

Mr. Polito arrives to retrieve his wallet from Lane, who took out the photo of Delores before returning it. Polito checks for the cash and is impressed it's all there. He gives Lane a 20 and says that's how they roll in New York. He comments that Lane is a gentleman, just like his girl said.

Don heads home. Megan is in a tizzy. She says she came home to clean. She takes off her robe and starts to clean in her underwear. She swipes at things and yells at him saying he doesn't deserve her and he doesn't like presents or nice things. She gets down on her hands and knees with her butt towards him and scrubs the rug and calls him old. He looks at her and is clearly turned on. She says all he is allowed to do is look. He grabs her head and kisses her. They get it on all hot and angry on the floor.

When they finish they chat. She says she doesn't think people like her at the office. He says that's not true. He says he didn't want the party because he doesn't want those people in his house. He says the problems at the office existed long before she got there. She says she loves going to work with him because he loves work and her but wonders if it's a bad idea. He says he doesn't care about work, he wants her there because he wants her. She notes that they'll need to replace the rug. He says white carpets are impractical. She thought he wanted it. He says he wanted her to have what she wanted. She kisses him.

Pete looks out the window of his new office. He tells Clara to pencil in a meeting at a coffee shop at the ferry building on Staten Island at 6 a.m. with Coca Cola and to make sure Roger sees it.

The next morning we see Roger getting ready for the "meeting." Jane asks where he's going. He tells her to shut up.

Pete is on the train chatting with his cronies about putting in an in-ground pool. He smiles out the window, no doubt thinking about the prank he pulled on Roger.

As he's leaving home Becca asks Lane for money for the grocer, he pulls some out and we see the picture of Delores in his wallet.

Joan and her mom ride with the baby in the elevator.

Megan and Don arrive at work and foyer is full of African-Americans. This is the fruit of Roger's ad.

The partners gather in a panic. Roger wants to tell them the position is filled or just interview them forever. Bert says this is not a solution. Don says to hire one. Someone mentions firing the receptionist and Roger says they can't have "one of them" out there. Just then an African statue arrives, a gift from "Y&R." Some laugh, but Pete and Bert don't. Meredith reports that all the black people in the lobby saw the arrival of the sculpture. Lane goes into the lobby and addresses the applicants. He tells them they are only looking for secretaries so the men can leave. He says he will collect resumes and those who meet the requirements will be contacte for an interview. The women line up and hand him their resumes and the other partners walk back into the office.