1Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
In 1960 New York City - the high-powered and glamorous "Golden Age" of advertising - Don Draper, the biggest ad man in the business, struggles to stay a step ahead of the rapidly changing times and the young executives nipping at his heels.
2Ladies Room
Don Draper is reluctant to talk about his past, or his childhood, whether with his wife Betty or his boss Roger Sterling. Joan Holloway teaches Peggy Olsen how to wrangle a free lunch out of some of the ad men. Roger Sterling raises the issue of working for the upcoming Nixon presidential campaign and while Don doesn't have much enthusiasm, senior partner Bert Cooper insists that they will go ahead and orders Don to put a team together. The creative team has to come up with an ad campaign for a new deodorant in an aerosol spray can. Betty Draper's doctor recommends that she see a psychiatrist.
3Marriage of Figaro
Pete Campbell returns from his honeymoon with tall tales and a big grin on his face. He does tell Peggy Olson that their fling before his marriage was for one night only. Don Draper runs into an old army buddy who knows him under the name of Dick Whitman. He also takes a tour of Rachel Menken's store but in a private moment, their mutual attraction becomes evident. The Drapers have friends over for their daughter's birthday party, including the divorcée who lives down the street. Don however is obviously unhappy with his lot in life and seems to be carrying a burden that is not apparent.
4New Amsterdam
Pete Campbell oversteps the mark when he pitches an idea for ad campaign to the head of Bethlehem Steel without telling Don Draper. Draper wants him fired but learns a lesson in corporate politics. Pete's wife wants to buy a Manhattan apartment but he has to approach his cold and distant parents for a loan. Pete's in-laws, however, are more forthcoming.
55G
Don Draper is shaken when his past life comes back to haunt him. After his picture appears in a local newspaper, Adam Whitman, a man who claims to be his younger brother, approaches him. Don, or Dick as his brother knows him, initially denies everything but in the end admits to having taken on a new name. He refuses however to have anything to do with him and tries to buy his silence. When one of the ad men gets a short story published, Pete Campbell is frustrated that his own stories have yet to see the light of day. When his wife approaches an old beau to see if he will publish the stories, he has an interesting proposition for her.
6Babylon
The Agency is looking to land an advertising contract to promote tourism to Israel. Don and his team try to come with a theme but know so little about the country they're stumped so Don calls Rachel Menken to see if she has any ideas. Roger Sterling is getting tired of sneaking around with Joan Holloway and suggests she should her own apartment but she knows better. Peggy comes up with an advertising concept during a testing session for a new line of lipsticks and she's subsequently asks to write copy.
7Red in the Face
Pete Campbell is having difficulty adjusting to married life and clashes with his wife over a wedding gift. Don Draper continues to secretly check on his wife's condition with her psychiatrist. Don invites Roger Sterling home for dinner and in a somewhat drunken state, makes a pass at Betty Draper. Don's reaction however is to blame Betty. The creative team at Sterling Cooper starts kicking around ideas for the Nixon Presidential campaign and Roger Sterling is convinced that Nixon is a shoe-in. Pete offers to help Peggy Olson with the copy she is writing for a new lipstick account. Betty has an unpleasant run-in with Helen Bishop at the supermarket.
8The Hobo Code
Pete Campbell and Peggy Olsen start an office romance. Peggy's copy for the lipstick account goes over well and the men in the firm congratulate her. A new telephone receptionist, Lois Saddler, takes a liking to Salvatore Romano but his own interests seem to lie elsewhere. Don Draper gets an unexpected bonus from Bert Cooper and wants to take Midge on a surprise trip to Paris. She seems too involved with her beatnik friends however. Don reflects on his unhappy childhood and in flashbacks he reveals some life lessons he learned early on when a hobo spent the day working on the family farm in exchange for a meal.
9Shoot
Don is courted by Jim Hobarth, head of a larger ad firm who offers him more money and more creative resources to join them. Betty Draper rekindles her interest in modeling after Hobarth suggests she should try it. She doesn't realize it's all part of the strategy to get Don on board. Peggy Olsen is fretting over her weight gain but doesn't appreciate Joan's advice about getting ahead in the office. The ad team tries to counter the advertising coming out of the Kennedy campaign. Pete Campbell comes up with an idea to keep Kennedy's image off TV in key States.
10Long Weekend
It's Labor Day weekend and most of the men are sending their wives away for a few days. Don Draper's wife Betty is dreading the thought, as her father and his new girlfriend, whom she detests, will be staying with them. With the election approaching, the team at Sterling Cooper is gloomy since the Nixon campaign has not been following their advice. Roger Sterling was hoping to spend Friday night with Joan Holloway but having just seen the movie _Apartment, The (1960)_ , she is feeling a bit used. She plans a night on the town with her old college friend who has some surprising information for her. Don and Roger invite twin sisters from a casting call to join them for a drink but things go badly for Roger who suffers a serious heart attack. After the incident Don ends up spending the night with Rachel Menken where reveals a lot of his inner self.
11Indian Summer
Peggy is given the opportunity to write copy for a new weight loss device that everyone knows is useless. She finds an interesting use for it, however. Afraid of losing the Lucky Strike cigarette account, Bert Cooper gets Roger Sterling to come in for a one-hour meeting but he has another attack. Don Draper becomes a partner and takes over from his friend Roger, but some of the ad men are sharpening their resumes nonetheless. Pete Campbell wants a promotion but Draper doesn't seem too interested. Pete sneaks into Don's office and takes home a parcel sent by Adam addressed to Don that the mail room boy comes to deliver.
12Nixon vs. Kennedy
Election night arrives and the staff of Sterling Cooper has a party while watching the returns. The election is close and it's obviously going to be a long night. Now a senior partner in the firm, Don Draper must hire a new head of account services, a post that Pete Campbell yearns for. Aware of Draper's secret past, he tries to strong-arm him into giving him the job. With his secret out, Don panics and he asks Rachel Menken to run away with him. Regaining his composure, Don calls Pete's bluff leading to a confrontation with Bert Cooper.
13The Wheel
Don and Betty Draper have an argument when it becomes apparent that he doesn't want to spend Thanksgiving with her family and she plans on going only with the children. He also learns some information about his brother Adam. Pete Campbell confirms that he has landed an account from his father-in-law for a new skin care product called Clearasil. He objects however when Don gives the account to Peggy Olson, who he has just been promoted to junior copywriter. Peggy proves her mettle in auditions for the weight loss device but later is feeling unwell and goes to the hospital where she is given some shocking news. Don comes up with a brilliant presentation for Kodak on a new wheel-like storage device for a slide projector that he dubs a carousel.
1For Those Who Think Young
It's Valentine's Day 1962, approximately 15 months since we last saw these cast of characters. On personal fronts, Don and Betty seem to have settled into an agreement of sorts that Don will try to be a better husband and father. Although Don makes a romantic gesture for Valentine's - dinner and a hotel stay at the Savoy Hotel - both Betty and Don realize there are still unspoken problems in their marriage. Joan and Roger have cooled off their romance, with Joan now actively dating. Pete and Trudy have worked out their early problems to now have what seems to be a supportive marriage, although the one stress in their lives is that they have not yet conceived a baby. And after an undisclosed leave of absence, Peggy has returned to her copy writers job at Sterling Cooper. There is much speculation among the men at the office as to Peggy's obvious weight loss, some speculating - correctly - that she had a baby, but wrong in that it is Don's (what else could explain Peggy's meteoric rise on the corporate ladder?), others thinking she went to a fat farm during her leave. On the work front, Duck is wanting a younger staff to provide the perception that Sterling Cooper is a hip, modern company with hip, modern ideas, this against Don's view of what is good for the company. Under this overriding directive, Salvatore and Peggy are working on the Mohawk Airline account. And the clerical staff is gawking over the newest office acquisition: a photocopying machine. The problem is it's size and where to put it.
2Flight 1
On March 1, 1962, American Airlines flight #1 crashes in Jamaica Bay killing ninety-five on board. This incident places a general pall over New York. On the professional front at Sterling Cooper, the immediate issue is the ads they've produced for rival airline, Mohawk, and the public sensitivities required regarding airlines and flying in general. But an opportunistic Duck learns through one of his old contacts at American, almost immediately following the crash, that American may want to change advertising agencies to re-brand the airline to get the public mindset away from the crash. In pursuing that account, Sterling Cooper would have to drop the Mohawk Airlines account due to a conflict of interest. Duck is supported by both Bertram and Roger on this move, but Don think it crass and unloyal, especially for just a shot at the American account. On a more personal issue, Pete learns that his father was on that flight. He is having trouble mourning the passing of his father. What's more, Pete learns through his brother, Bud, in dealing with the estate that his father squandered all the family's money - including some of his mother's trust fund - on a lavish lifestyle leaving the family estate worthless. Back at the office, Duck tries to convince Pete that he should be one of the major faces in the presentation to American due to his family tragedy. Although both Duck and Pete realize the request is insensitive and opportunistic, Pete does not say no. On other issues outside the office, Peggy pays a visit to her mother and sister, who are now guardians of a child. Paul, living an artist's lifestyle in New Jersey, throws a party with his Sterling Cooper colleagues in attendance. The party is in part to introduce his new girlfriend Sheila, who happens to be black, to his friends. About his lifestyle including dating outside his race, Joan accuses Paul of wanting to appear more liberal in his attitude than he actually is. And an unknown someone uses the office photocopying machine on a gag at Joan's expense.
3The Benefactor
While Don plays hooky from work, a disaster happens on the set of a commercial for Utz Nuts when a verbal altercation occurs between the temperamental and drunk star of the commercial, comedian Jimmy Barrett, and Edith Schilling, one half of the husband-wife owners of Utz. Don uses Lois as a scapegoat for the problem. He tries to rectify the situation by talking to Barrett's "people", namely his manager wife, Bobbie. Bobbie is as strong willed as Jimmy is arrogant. As Bobbie and Don get to know each other better, both play hardball in their negotiations. Harry discovers some inside office information he wish he hadn't, both in that he doesn't like the information and can't hide how he found out. This information threatens his future at Sterling Cooper. However in researching his options including looking for work elsewhere, he stumbles across a possible opportunity for Sterling Cooper. This move puts him in the company's good books, but in the end, Harry doesn't get everything that he wants. Betty finally gets to know more about Arthur Case, her mysterious riding partner, including meeting his fianc?©e, Tara. Arthur thinks that he has Betty all figured out. Although he is fairly accurate in his assessment, Betty denies all.
4Three Sundays
There seems to be familial bliss in the Draper household, especially between Don and Betty. However Bobby is acting out, which leads to a major disagreement between his parents on the issue of discipline. This disagreement places a strain on their bliss, but this change is made all the more clear when Don confesses to Betty for the first time the nature of his own abused childhood. A family that seems to be experiencing even less bliss, specifically below the surface, is Peggy's. Father Gill is a visiting new minister at Katherine's church, one who pays particular attention to Peggy. But a tearful Anita goes to confession and speaks to Father Gill about her frustrations with Peggy regarding Peggy's life, including she having a bastard child. Father Gill indicates to Peggy that he at least knows about the child, which may place walls between Peggy and the Father and Anita. Frustrations are also emerging at Sterling Cooper when staff is called into the office on Palm Sunday for an emergency work session to develop materials for the American Airlines pitch later that week. Don's daughter Sally has to accompany her father that day and adds a bit of spice to the day for some of the staff, especially Joan and Paul. Duck has some devastating news for the hard working staff just prior to the meeting with the American Airlines representatives. Although present at the American Airlines pitch, Roger was inconspicuously absent from the working session, as he is back to his womanizing ways, this time with one of Ken's "paid" girls by the name of Vicky. And Bobbie Barrett pays Don a surprise visit. She uses the guise of pitching a television series for Jimmy for her visit, but in reality her visit was primarily to seduce Don.
5The New Girl
Pete and Trudy visit a doctor to discuss their problems conceiving a child. Pete deals insensitively with the resulting news. Bobbie continues her personal pursuit of Don. After a drunken evening with Bobbie (in which they run into a now married Rachel Menken), Don, driving Bobbie home, gets into a traffic accident. He fails the breathalyser test and calls the only person he can think of who can bail him out of this predicament and will protect this secret for him. Through flashbacks, we learn why Don chose this person as his confidante. Although Don walks into the office the following day with his arm in a sling, he is paid little attention due to the arrival of Don's attractive new secretary, Jane Siegel, and an engagement ring on Joan's finger. Despite falling under the radar of doing anything wrong with Bobbie, Don dreads an urgent meeting called by Jimmy Barrett. And Peggy receives some career advice from an unexpected source.
6Maidenform
Duck is facing pressures both at home and at work. On a Memorial Day holiday visit from his children, he learns that his ex-wife is planning on remarrying. At the office, he is still smarting from the loss of the American Airlines account, from which much tension still exists between himself and Don. Roger orders a truce between the two, who comply. More work stress is added on Duck's plate when one of Sterling Cooper's largest clients, Playtex, who has been happy with their advertising thus far, have of late aspired to the edgier advertising of their competitor, Maidenform. Ultimately, the stress for Duck becomes too much, Duck's dog Chauncy taking the initial hit. With the Playtex account, Peggy has been shut out by "the boys" in providing any meaningful input and even asks for advice from Joan on how to infiltrate the boys' network. But working on the account for Clearasil, the client of who is Pete's father-in-law, Peggy does develop a new concept that plays well at least informally with Pete and his father-in-law. On personal fronts, Betty has been avoiding Arthur at the riding stable, but Arthur eases Betty's mind about any future advances. Pete relieves some of his sexual frustrations with a model auditioning for the Playtex account. And Don and Bobbie intensify their sexual liaison. However, Bobbie make an off the cuff comment which makes Don realize that he has to be more careful about his public personal life.
7The Gold Violin
Jane Siegel becomes the center of attention at Sterling Cooper. Her mystique among the accounts boys hits a new high when rumors float around the office of a new abstract painting in Bertram Cooper's office, and what it means. To find out, she leads a few of them in the office clandestinely to view it. The one non-fan of Jane's is Joan. An altercation ensues between the two. Jane manages to wrangle others to her side, most importantly Roger Sterling, but she is now aware that she has to keep her eye on how Joan may get the upper hand in their relationship. On the accounts front, Don and Duck work together to get the Martinson's coffee account, and they go with Duck's idea of hiring the younger talents of Smith and Smith to work on the pitch. As a result, Don reaps the benefits as Cooper and Sterling's choice as the philanthropic face of the company, which includes a new public persona associated with Don's new Cadillac Coup de Ville. Shopping for the car makes Don reminisce about his previous life as a car salesman and again being exposed on not being the real Don Draper. Salvatore has a new crush, that being Ken. Salvatore invites Ken to dinner on the guise of reading his new short story. Salvatore's wife Kitty notices her husband's doting on Ken, but does not understand its full meaning. And Jimmy Barrett extends a personal invitation to the Draper's through Betty to a industry shindig to celebrate the pick-up of Jimmy's new television show, Grin and Barrett. Jimmy implies to both the Draper's individually that he knows of Don's indiscretions with Bobbie.
8A Night to Remember
For the Heineken beer account, Don and Duck think that targeting upper class suburban housewives is the approach to take. True to their thoughts, Betty even ends up buying Heineken for a small company dinner party. When an inside joke is made at the party about her buying Heineken, Betty uses this situation to later confront Don with her knowledge of his affair with Bobbie Barrett. Don denies everything, although Betty deep in her heart knows the truth. She searches for conclusive evidence of the affair, without luck. But Betty makes a short term decision about their marriage. With other work goings-on, Harry is chastised for a faux pas regarding airing a Maytag commercial on a television movie Maytag deemed unsuitable. Harry, working alone, pleads for extra help for the fledgling television department. Roger denies his request but does allow Harry to co-opt someone from the secretarial staff to assist in at least reading scripts. Thinking it sound interesting, Joan volunteers. She enjoys this new job and is good at it, as the Maytag folks are pleased with the new direction of their account. Despite what seems to be a new direction for her at Sterling Cooper, Joan quietly and sadly accepts the news that her tenure in the position is short-lived. Another account, albeit a pro bono one is for Peggy's church. Father Gill wants Peggy's help in developing a campaign for an upcoming youth dance. Peggy treats this task as she would any account, speaking bluntly to Father Gill about what she think right and wrong. On the flip side, Father Gill uses this situation to question Peggy about her life.
9Six Month Leave
At Betty's insistence, Don moves out and is living in a hotel temporarily. Betty is depressed to the point that she cannot even dress in the morning and is drinking far too much. Fred Rumsen's heavy drinking finally catches up with him when he embarrasses himself during a team meeting in his office and eventually passes out just before an important meeting with a client. Peggy Olson saves the day but Pete Campbell reports Rumsen's drunkenness and Roger Sterling decides the man has to go. He and Don take Fred out for dinner to break him the news that he has six months off with pay, but he knows he will never again work at Sterling Cooper. During a long night out, Roger takes Don's advice a little too seriously and Don finds himself accused of breaking up the Sterlings' marriage.
10The Inheritance
The talk around the office is the business trip that Pete and Paul are going on to Los Angeles to a aeronautics convention in the hopes of gaining contracts from the emerging aerospace industry. For Paul, this trip is a good excuse not to accompany Sheila to Mississippi where she hoped he would assist her in a civil rights campaign. Family fronts are not going as well. Pete and Trudy are still arguing about their lack of progeny, Trudy wants to adopt. With the other generation, Pete is finding it difficult to relate to his mother, who still is not aware of her new poor financial situation. With the Drapers, Betty's father, Gene, has suffered a mild heart attack which brings Don and Betty temporarily back together as Betty needs Don's support in visiting with her family. Although the Hofstadt family outwardly does not want to discuss the seriousness of the situation, it looks like Gene is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Back home, away from Gene and Gloria's, Betty still does not allow Don back into the family home. To preoccupy himself, Don decides to take Paul's place on the trip to Los Angeles, much to Paul's dismay who can now go with Sheila to Mississippi. Back at the Draper household, Betty, alone, finds that Glen Bishop has run away and has been hiding in her backyard. Besides having problems at home, Glen wants to be Betty's knight in shining armor. Although still not on speaking terms with Glen's mother Helen, Betty calls Helen to pick up Glen, and ends up confiding to Helen about her own personal situation with Don.
11The Jet Set
After leaving Mona, Roger asks Jane Siegel to marry him, an offer which she accepts. The divorce looks to be a messy proceeding. At the office, Duck wants to make partner, but Roger, being candid, tells him that his performance to date doesn't warrant such a move. Duck decides he has either to be more aggressive in looking for a better job elsewhere or in finding additional business for Sterling Cooper to warrant the partnership. Still at the office, the creative team is talking about the difficult time Paul seems to be having in Mississippi from what they see on the news, the good time that Don and Pete are probably having in Los Angeles, the Right Guard campaign and Bob Dylan. With the latter, Kurt asks Peggy to Dylan's concert after she expresses interest in his music. Peggy sees this as a date, whereas Kurt sees it purely as friends going out as he assumed she and everyone in the office knew he was gay. This news brings out everyone's deep feelings about homosexuality and pushes Salvatore deeper into the closet. However, Kurt helps Peggy in other ways. In Los Angeles, Don pushes Pete into working harder than he expected - Pete expected a lot of time sitting by the pool and swimming - but Don himself abandons Pete and work when he meets Joy and her band of "beautiful people" who seem to have a lot of money but don't work for it. Don's time with Joy and her friends makes him think about making a connection to his past life.
12The Mountain King
No one at Sterling Cooper knows where Don is. Since he abandoned Pete in Los Angeles, he has been missing. In fact, he is still in California visiting with his old friend, Anna Draper, the widow of the real Don Draper. The two came to an understanding years earlier where Don has been her financier and confidante. Don is contemplating remaining in California for good, resuming a life now known as Dick Whitman. Back in New York, the partners, including Bertram's sister Alice and without Don, are reviewing the merger with Putnam, Powell & Lowe and make their decision in Don's absence. Things are not going well personally or by association professionally for Pete. He and Trudy are still arguing over the possibility of adopting. Because of the magnitude of their argument, Trudy tells her father Tom of the issue, he who gives Pete an ultimatum: make Trudy happy by giving her what she wants, or he'll pull the Clearasil account from Sterling Cooper. Pete is decisive in his decision. Peggy's fortunes at the office are better. Almost single-handedly, she gets the Popsicle account for the company. And she is the only one who is forthright enough to ask Roger for Fred Rumsen's vacant office. Joan's life outwardly seems to be extremely happy now that she's engaged to Dr. Greg Harris, but their relationship is not unlike the bunch of roses he gave to her: fragrant and sweet at some times, with thorns under the surface. Betty is still trying to deal with life without Don. She decides to tell Sally about her and Don's marital troubles. And she and Sarah Beth argue over Arthur and Tara's impending marriage.
13Meditations in an Emergency
The Cuban Missile Crisis is preoccupying the minds of Americans. Nuclear war is a very real possibility and as such, many are thinking about where and with whom they would want to die. Trudy wants to be with her parents, whereas Pete wants to stay in Manhattan. Father John uses the crisis as a basis for one of his sermons and also ties in with it a private conversation with Peggy about her life. Betty learns that she's pregnant and because of the state of the world and her family, she's not sure she wants to keep the baby. Coinciding with this news is Don's return back to New York, he who wants to resume his life as it was, both personally and professionally. Don's return does not alter Betty's feelings, but a night alone on the town while Don has the children gives Betty the opportunity to figure out what she wants and needs to do. At Sterling Cooper, Don is surprised by the news of the merger, whereas the accounts and creatives executives are wondering about what's going on, most thinking that Don is opening a west coast branch office. For a price, Lois, who has been working at the switchboard since being fired as Don's secretary, uses her position to broker what she thinks is a deal for herself in the new Sterling Cooper. And Duck brings Pete into his confidence about being the new President of the company and wanting Pete to fill his old position. Pete uses this information to what he thinks his best advantage. Duck is anticipating that the new management structure will either bring Don in line under his thinking or will send Don packing into another line of work altogether. The restructuring meeting does not go according to Duck's plans. And Peggy and Pete have a heart to heart about their professional and personal lives.
1Out of Town
Don and Betty are back together in martial bliss as they await the birth of their next child. Don is daydreaming about an ominous view of his own birth, which may be a sign about Betty's pregnancy. At Sterling Cooper, financial officer Layne Price from the parent British office and his personal secretary John Hooker have been brought in to do some housecleaning. The British way of doing business is foreign to most of those at Sterling Cooper. One-third of the staff is being let go, including Head of Accounts, Burt Peterson. In Burt's old position, Layne installs Pete, much to his relief and excitement. But his excitement is short lived when he learns he will be sharing the job with Ken. They are told in coded language that one of the two will emerge as the sole person in the position based on performance. Also because of Burt's dismissal, Don and Sal are sent to Baltimore in his place to meet with their London Fog account contacts. While in Baltimore, they, masquerading as "Bill" and "Sam", socialize with their New York to Baltimore flight crew. As the evening ends, Don shows that his personal life has not changed with Betty's pregnancy. Sal also unexpectedly exposes a little of his personal life to Don.
2Love Among the Ruins
Betty Draper has to deal with her brother William who wants to place their father Gene in a home for the aged. He says that they do not have the resources to keep him but Betty suspects he just wants to get his hands on their Dad's house. William keeps laying on the guilt and it's up to Don to settle it all. At the office, Don and Roger Sterling go after a major account: the group that wants to build the new Madison Square Gardens and demolish the beautiful Penn railway station. They're successful but head office in London has other ideas. Peggy doesn't agree with the Agency's approach to a new Pepsi campaign thinking that it should be directed more at women that at men. She still feels like the odd "man" out on the creative team even though, consciously or otherwise, she is beginning to act more and more like her male colleagues. With his daughter's wedding soon upon him, Roger Sterling has to deal with the fact that his daughter doesn't want his new fianc?©e to attend.
3My Old Kentucky Home
It's the weekend, but not many are feeling like it will be a relaxing time. Peggy, Paul and Smitty are forced to work to come up with creatives for the Bacardi Rum account. Beyond making their work atmosphere be like a vacation to match the creatives, Paul calls in his old Princeton colleague, Jeffrey Graves, for some chemical inspiration much to the consternation of Olive, Peggy's new officious secretary. Supposedly having a better time are the Drapers, the Campbells, the Cranes, Bertram and Ken, who are attending a garden party hosted by the Sterlings. Don and Betty in particular don't want to be there, they feeling like it is work more than a social outing. Jane, wanting to fit into her new social circle, causes a bit of problem by the end of the evening. And Joan and Greg are hosting a small dinner party of their own for Greg's medical colleagues and their wives. Joan does whatever she has to to seem the perfect hostess and to show Greg to his best advantage. Meanwhile back at the Draper house, Gene, Betty's father, has moved in. Sally is the unknowing culprit causing a bit of a stir for her grandfather and by extension everyone else in the house.
4The Arrangements
At the Draper house, Gene is indulging his grandchildren against Don and Betty's wishes. Gene wants to discuss his death arrangements with Betty, which distresses her. And Gene's presence in general is making Don think about his own parents. But these issues with Gene and the Drapers take a major turn. Meanwhile, Peggy decides to move from Brooklyn to Manhattan, being able to do so only if she finds a roommate. She dreads telling her mother about this decision. Her roommate ad in the paper is the brunt of jokes within the office. Joan is an unexpected source of support for Peggy. With work, Pete brings in a new account, that from his college chum, Horace Cook, Jr. - HoHo to his friends. He wants to promote the sport of jai alai, and is willing to pay a large sum for its promotion. Don knows that Horace Cook, Sr. is a close friend of Bertram's and wants to make sure that Cook Sr. is aware of what his son is doing with the family money. With the Patio Cola account, Sal is a last minute replacement to direct the television commercial. The end product has an unexpected response from the client. But Sal uses his work stresses as an excuse to Kitty as to his inattentiveness to her at home.
5The Fog
Sally has been acting up in school because of grieving for her Grandfather, Gene. Sally's teacher, who has a conference with Don and Betty, is over-sensitive to the reason behind Sally's behavior. Sally isn't the only person who misses her grandpa. Meanwhile, Betty goes into labor. Out in the waiting room, Don has a philosophical chat with new expectant father, Dennis Hobart, a prison guard by profession, about family life. Betty, under sedation, dreams about her lot in life with Don. At Sterling Cooper, Lane is scrutinizing the executives expenses accounts, especially what he sees as over use of office supplies. This penny-pinching irks Don. With Sterling Cooper in this financial situation, it is not a good time for Peggy to ask for a raise. Pete is also feeling under-appreciated with, in his mind, the short stick of the accounts distribution versus Ken. So he makes a controversial decision on one of his accounts, Admiral Television. Peggy and Pete have other considerations, specifically in discussions with Duck Phillips. The events at Sterling Cooper over their respective situations may sway their decisions.
6Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency
A lot is happening at Sterling Cooper in the lead up to Independence Day. The office will be closed on July 3rd, and the staff are looking forward to the holiday. July 2nd will be Joan's last day before she settles into being a housewife as Greg is primed to be promoted to Chief Resident of Surgery. But plans change when Sterling Cooper's British parent company representatives are coming for "an inspection". This essentially means that the office will now be open on July 3rd. Ken is buoyed by this news as he has just brought in another lucrative account, John Deere tractor. Bertram and Roger believe the visit really is to provide an official evaluation and promotion for Don, with who the Brits were impressed ever since the takeover meeting when Don overthrew Duck Phillips. They think he will get a creative executive position, splitting his time between New York and London. To make the visit smoother, Bertram wants Don and Roger to reconcile their differences. But when the Director and Chair arrive with young dynamic Guy Mackendrick in tow, it is Guy who delivers the unexpected news to the masses. It ends up being an eventful day for Guy in the office. It also ends up being an eventful time later that day for Don as he meets with an old acquaintance. At the Harris household, there is also an unexpected turn of events. And at the Draper household, Sally has been totally ignoring baby Gene. Betty's attempt to get Sally to bond with her new baby brother fails. Don eventually learns what is troubling Sally.
7Seven Twenty Three
Don's acquaintance Connie, better known to the rest of the world as Conrad Hilton, stops by the office on an unexpected visit. As a start, he wants to transfer the advertising business of his New York hotels to Sterling Cooper. Don is reluctant to specify the nature of Connie's visit to the staff, who are all abuzz about Don even knowing the powerful Hilton, let alone the possibility of working on a campaign for Hilton Hotels. On the pretense of the new Hilton account, Bertram, Roger and Lane discuss an administrative issue with Don. Betty gets caught in the middle of the battle between Don and the partners. Don himself gets caught up in two other unusual incidents, the first with Sally's teacher Miss Farrell, and the second with a couple he picks up who are hitchhiking to Niagara Falls. Both incidents make him ponder his future. At the office, Pete has definitely made up his mind not to accept Duck's offer for a position at Gray Advertising, especially with the possibility of the Hilton campaign. Although she also has verbally stated she has made the same decision, Peggy is having second thoughts about going to Gray. Much will depend on what Don will offer her (he not knowing about Gray) and what Duck will. The latter offers her something she probably wasn't expecting. Betty has much on her plate. In addition to redecorating the living room, she is back at work volunteering with the Junior League. They need some political help is advancing their latest cause. Although a few people in the league know him including Betty, she, as the "adorable" one in the group, is tasked with contacting Henry Francis in the Governor's office. Their meeting continues the sexual tension they experienced when they first met.
8Souvenir
It's the summer vacation season, and many New Yorkers are out of town, including Trudy. Pete, alone at home, is feeling a little restless. His restlessness is cured when he meets Gudrun, an au pair who is working for his neighbors. Pete decides to assist a teary eyed Gudrun with a problem she is having. In doing so, Pete runs into an old colleague, which is slightly embarrassing for both. In doing this favor for Gudrun, Pete expects more than just a little gratitude in return, which causes some problems. Upon Trudy's return, Pete makes an unexpected request from her. At the Drapers, Betty is buoyed by the help that Henry Francis has provided in at least delaying the reservoir project. Henry admits that he helped for one specific reason. Don, who is also taking time off from work, is unexpectedly called by Connie to make a two day site visit to one of his hotels in Rome. Although a work trip, Betty, on Don's invitation, accompanies him on this trip. The two end up having more than just a little fun while in Rome. Arriving home, Betty realizes that her life in Terrytown is not perfect. She also needs to have a heart to heart mother-daughter talk with Sally, sparked by an incident while Betty and Don were away but which encompasses many of the feelings Sally has been experiencing since Grandpa Gene's death.
9Wee Small Hours
Connie is constantly calling Don, even in the middle of the night. But the carrot of the entire Hilton account is enough for Don to endure these intrusions on his personal life. Don may ultimately have a black mark with Connie when he does not literally follow through with a thought Connie provides to him. Sal is working on a commercial for Lucky Strike. But an incident with the client, Lee Garner, Jr., may jeopardize not only his position on the account but his position at Sterling Cooper. Sal takes out his frustrations by resorting to his primal urges. At the Draper house, Don and Betty are both preoccupied with their infatuations, Don's with Sally's former teacher Suzanne Farrell, and Betty's with Henry Francis. Both go to extreme measures to progress those infatuations.
10The Color Blue
The 40th anniversary party for Sterling Cooper is approaching, but not many seem to be excited about it. Bertram, who does not feel the need to reminisce, is not planning to attend. And Roger doesn't want to see more praise stowed upon Don, which is supposed to happen at the party. But the Brits at head office want the party to be a success, if only to carry out their clandestine plan. With others in the office, Paul is feeling threatened by Peggy, who he sees as Don's favorite. Paul however comes up with what he believes is a brilliant idea for a campaign, if only he can remember what that idea is. And Lane is feeling pressured by his wife Rebecca, who hates living in New York. At the Draper household, Betty is keeping her distance from Henry Francis, but Don is continuing his affair with Suzanne Farrell. Being the private person that he is, he wants no one to know about it, even Suzanne's epileptic brother Danny, who she wants Don to know. But Betty stumbles across something Don left in his pocket, which may end up exposing more to her than he wants.
11The Gypsy and the Hobo
A former client returns to to Sterling Cooper as she is now in charge of her father's business and says she wants to try to regain the market share they lost when they were targeted for using horse meat in their dog food. She also clearly has an interest in Roger Sterling who she had a thing for years before. Betty and the kids go to their father's house to settle his affairs but she takes the opportunity to get advice from the family lawyer on her own marital situation. She returns early and decides to confront Don with what she knows. Joan is looking for work as her husband looks to change his residency to psychiatry. While she is being supportive he's just feeling sorry for himself and they have have a major falling out over his future. She calls Roger to see if he can help her find a job but Greg makes a major career move without consulting her.
12The Grown-Ups
It's a special day in the lives of everyone at Sterling Cooper. Pete Campbell learns from Lane Pryce that Ken Cosgrove is to be appointed as Vice President in charge of accounts with Pete being assigned to a lesser job leading him re-consider Duck Phillips' offer. Don learns that he won't be able to hire the man he hoped would replace Sal Romano as Art Director and Peggy Olson arranges to spend her lunchtime in bed with Duck at a nearby hotel. It's November 22, 1963 however and their lives all seemingly come to a swift halt with the announcement that President John F. Kennedy has been assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Roger Sterling's daughter decides to go ahead with her wedding planned for the next day, even though few people show up. Betty sees Henry Francis at the wedding and meets him the next day where he has a surprising question for her. Feeling hollow and empty, she finally tells Don what she really feels about him.
13Shut the Door. Have a Seat
Don's life is falling apart around him. He learns from Connie about the sale of Sterling Cooper, and because of it the loss of the Hilton account. As Don passes the news to Roger and Bertram, the three decide to plot strategy for what each wants in their professional future. Among their options are to go to the new company (which for Bertram will probably mean the end of his professional life), or the preferred option which is to buy back Sterling Cooper from Putnam, Powell and Lowe. What is not an option is to quit since they are all under contract, which would prevent them from working in advertising altogether. However, with the assistance of an unexpected person, they come up with another option. The success of this option depends on the assistance of many, who may or may not decide to help, and some quick action before the rest of the world figures out what's going on. Because this maneuver feels like starting over, Don reminisces about a big change in his life when he was a young boy. At home, Betty has asked Don for a divorce, which Don does not want to grant. With the advice of a divorce lawyer, Betty has figured out a way that will make it difficult for Don not to grant her wish. His home life may more difficult to rectify than his professional life.
1Public Relations
The new Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Pryce has been in business for one year, and it as a business is still floundering. They still have Lucky Strike as their big account, but all other clients account for a small proportion of total revenue. For every new innovative campaign they do, such as the recent television commercial for Glo-Coat, they have problems with another client. For example, Peggy, Pete and Joey are working on a campaign for Sugarberry Ham, and they feel they need to come up with a publicity stunt to replace the non-existent media budget, the stunt which they don't clear with Don and which goes slightly awry. And Don refuses to compromise his creative stance to kowtow to potential new clients. The company is housed in a small office that is not well furnished - it doesn't even have a conference table, the circle of chairs acting as the conference area they tell their clients is to foster dialogue. Don is being interviewed for Ad-Age Magazine, which the other partners trust will increase their exposure but the interview for which Don takes lightly. On the personal front, Don is living in an apartment in town, while Betty and Henry, now married, are living in the Draper house. Life for both Don and Betty personally is not perfect. Don is resisting any notion of a long term relationship, and is treating sex as something other than a loving act. And Betty, who should now be out of the house as per the divorce agreement, hasn't even started looking for alternative housing yet. On top of that, Sally is having problems adjusting to Henry's extended family, Henry's mother, who in turn, is having her own problems with Henry's new instant family.
2Christmas Comes But Once a Year
The Christmas season is in full swing, but that only compounds the problems for Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Pryce. Feeling the company still financially insolvent, Lane will only allow a meager office Christmas party, with no spouses or partners. Roger makes a unilateral decision to change that directive from Lane to keep their one major client, Lee Garner Jr. of Lucky Strike, happy. Roger wants the company to appear cheerful and busy to those in the outside world that matter. The company's fortune may change for the better when ex-Sterling Cooper fired employee Freddy Rumsen, now clean and sober for sixteen months, walks through their doors, he who brings with him a lucrative contract with Pond's cold cream. One of his two major stipulations is that he comes with the contract. Peggy, who has been Freddy's biggest supporter in the past, may regret what she wished for as she and Freddy butt heads over the concept for Pond's. Also to assist in improving the company's fortunes, Bertram enlists the help of an old friend, the head of marketing research company, to provide their services, which doesn't sit well with Don for personal reasons. Don in general isn't feeling much in the Christmas mood, he who has been drinking more than usual over the thought of not spending Christmas with his kids. He looks for female companionship wherever he can find it, which may end up not being in his best interest or that of the women involved. Sally, too, is feeling sad not only over not seeing her father more, but by still living in the family home with his memory. Her old friend, Glen Bishop, takes unilateral action to help her out with this problem. And Peggy, in a developing relationship with Mark Kerney, isn't totally forthright with him about her past concerning their future. Peggy's actions are in light of both her short and long term wants, the short being primarily not to be alone on New Year's Eve.
3The Good News
Plans are being made for the New Year's break. Don, heading to Acapulco, makes a twenty-four hour stop in Los Angeles to visit with Anna, who's broken her leg which is in a cast. The two spend the day with Anna's grown niece, Stephanie. Alone with Stephanie at the end of the evening, Don tries to seduce her, but his seduction plans change when she gives him some sobering news. Don has to figure out what to do with the news before he leaves Los Angeles. Because of the news, Don changes his New Year's plans. Back in New York, Joan and Greg want to start a family, but have to find time when both are free. Lane denies her the two days she wants in January when Greg is off, after which she expects he will be headed to Vietnam at the completion of basic training. Lane's attempt to make it up to Joan which goes slightly awry and a mishap at home combined with the underlying stress of trying to find the time with Greg finally take their toll emotionally on Joan. And Lane was supposed to go back to England to spend time with his family, but for personal reasons decides to stay in New York to work instead, work which is his new grounding in life. He gets some unexpected company, the two who paint the town for January 1st, 1965, which provides Lane with some much needed distraction.
4The Rejected
With the firm now handling the Ponds cold cream account, Pete is given the news that they have to let go of Clearasil - an account only half the size - despite Pete's connection to the account through his father-in-law, Tom. Pete is directed to tell Tom the news by the start of the next working day. However, Pete's news to Tom is overshadowed by news Tom has for Pete, which makes Pete forget about his task, at least for the time being. Once the news of what Tom told Pete makes the rounds at the office, everyone seems happy for Pete, with perhaps the exception of Peggy, who finds the news somewhat bittersweet. With Ponds, Faye - oops, Fay - holds a focus group with the younger secretaries of the firm. Don, Freddy and Peggy, viewing the focus group behind a two-way mirror, find the focus group illuminating, but for Don having to do with an issue not associated with the product. This revelation during the focus group leads to a frank discussion between Allison and Don. Meanwhile, Pete renews an acquaintanceship, while Peggy begins new friendships with Life magazine photo editor Joyce Ramsay, and her pop artist friends.
5The Chrysanthemum and the Sword
The general scuttlebutt within the Madison Avenue advertising world is that Ted Chaough is the next Don Draper, and that Ted's firm, Cutler Gleason & Chaough (CG&C), is stealing all the accounts from Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (SCDP), the latest being Clearasil. Although not quite the truth, the perception that CG&C is the up and coming ad agency may make life tougher for an already struggling SCDP. Pete has connections for what may be the next big account up for grabs, Honda Motorcycles, worth $3 million in potential billings. Don wants everyone dealing with the account at SCDP to brush up on their Japanese etiquette as the leg up for the firm in nabbing the account. Ted lets Don know that CG&C is also in the running for the lucrative business. Everyone in the know in the ad world seems to want the account, except for Roger, who has strong remembrances of his time in the last world war. When Roger makes a move that may jeopardize the account before they even get it, Don comes up with what he thinks is the only way to salvage their chances, while making the competitors look bad. Meanwhile, Sally has been acting up more of late, first with one parent, and then with the other, which places Don and Betty on worse terms than they were before. With Henry added to the mix, they individually have differing views of what should be done to deal with Sally's issues. Betty, with Henry's advice, has the final say.
6Waldorf Stories
The firm is on a high as Don has been nominated for a Clio Award for the Glo-Coat ad. The one person who has some issue specifically with Don is Peggy, who feels that Don has not provided any recognition for her significant contribution to that ad and who is not among those from the company invited to the awards ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. On top of that, Don is giving her deadline ultimatums for the Vicks account, the hold-ups which she feels are not her fault, but that of the new art director, Stan Rizzo, who Don seems to respect more than her. To make their working relationship function, Peggy takes Stan up on what she considers a bluff, which has mixed reactions. During this time, an inebriated Don also pitches a bad and stolen idea to their Life cereal clients, who love the idea. Peggy, at that meeting, knows its original source. That action by Don may be the last Peggy will tolerate from him in this already bad weekend for her. Don gets out of this predicament in a way that surprises Peggy in not a good way. The end of the weekend also gets Don in hot water with an already angry Betty. Another person at the office who is not too happy is Pete, who learns from an outside source of someone who may be joining the firm. Pete tries to flex his muscles in this matter as one of the firm's partners. Lane counters that the extra body is required as the accounts grow and Roger's contribution to the company dwindle to being solely that of figurehead. Roger is more focused on dictating his memoirs, which makes him reminisce about when he first met Don and how Don, with no formal experience, came to work at Sterling Cooper. That situation mirrors to some extent something that Don is currently going through, with Don now in the Roger role.
7The Suitcase
It's May 25, 1965, the date of two milestones. First, it's the much anticipated heavyweight boxing rematch between Sonny Liston and Cassius Clay. All of the guys from the office are planning on watching the fight at the Loews movie theater, making a night out of it with dinner and drinks beforehand, with Roger and Don having work plans with the Ponds clients before the match. And second, it's Peggy's twenty-sixth birthday. She receives an initially intriguing birthday present from Duck, the present which she quickly realizes is less substantial than at first glance. But it ends up not being the greatest birthday for her when she and Don butt heads over the latest campaign for Samsonite, this argument for Peggy an extension of her recent negative feelings toward Don. But working on the campaign, which makes Peggy miss her birthday dinner with Mark (the dinner which for Mark is more important than he initially lets on) and Don miss both his work function with Roger and the fight, leads to a roller coaster of emotions for both Don and Peggy. The evening ends up being the first real intimate moment the two have spent with each other since Don visited Peggy in the hospital following her giving birth. The date also ends up being another milestone for Don, but one he would rather have not happened.
8The Summer Man
Don has come to the realization that his life is falling apart, fueled in large part by his excessive alcohol consumption. To get his life back on track, he is swimming regularly - a difficult task at first - and writing a journal, the latter which may be the more difficult task as he admits he has never strung together more that 250 words at any given time. His problems are compounded by the fact that Gene's second birthday is coming up, Gene's official party to which he is not invited. He also knows in his heart that Gene considers Henry to be his father. Don also evaluates the state of his relationships, especially with Bethany. Betty is not coping much better with her life, the thought of Don which causes her unending grief. A chance social meeting with Don totally unravels Betty, unfortunate for Henry that it takes place at an important dinner with regard to Henry's political future. Betty's emotions take their toll on the Francises. Joan is also going through a rough time with Greg soon heading off to basic training. She is also butting heads with Joey, who is treading on shaky ground in that he is not an employee but a freelancer who does not respect the role that Joan plays in the office. A specific incident between Joey and Joan may be the last straw for her. A move by Peggy to stand up for Joan has a surprising result.
9The Beautiful Girls
Emotional issues are infiltrating life at the office. An incident with Sally causes Don some problems, both because of the issue itself and how it affects his professional and now budding personal relationship with Faye. Sally and Don's life in combination with this issue is not made any easier with Betty's take on it. Although hiding it, Joan is feeling vulnerable with news that Greg is being sent to Vietnam following his stint in basic training. Roger wants to be a support to Joan, and admits that his support is partly for his own lustful wants for Joan although he doesn't expect anything to happen with her. But an additional stressful situation which Roger and Joan face together may change what happens or doesn't happen between them. And Peggy is being wooed by Joyce's friend, the socially conscious Abe Drexler. Abe's attempts to get into Peggy's good graces go slightly awry, and may even get her fired if a gift he gives her, which was supposed to flatter her, is made public. But Peggy is affected by that gift and her discussions with Abe, especially in relation to her work with Fillmore Auto Parts, a company that does not hire blacks in the south. On top of all these issues, another incident at the office concerning Miss Blankenship surprises everyone but is one that has the greatest emotional effect on Bert.
10Hands and Knees
SCDP's fortune's are on the upswing and Don is buoyed by that fact. Harry is getting him tickets to a Beatles concert, to which he is taking an excited Sally. And SCDP are in final negotiations with North American Aviation, whose marketing budget has been substantially increased. However, the contract with North America Aviation has some unforeseen consequences, the results which unnerve Betty, concern Pete who does whatever he can to handle the situation within his means albeit with some reservations, but most importantly threaten Don's entire future. As Don prepares for his family's security if he is taken down, the reality of the situation begins truly to sink in. With others in the office, Lane receives an unexpected visit from his father. The purpose of the visit is to bring Lane home to deal with his marital issues. But Lane has a particular reason for wanting to stay permanently in New York, which he has to decide whether to tell his father. And Roger and Joan's sexual indiscretion has an unplanned consequence: Joan is pregnant. They discuss what to do, with keeping the baby and passing it off as Greg's an option on the table. Roger receives news of another bombshell, this one of a professional nature, and one that may bring on another heart attack more than news of Joan's pregnancy.
11Chinese Wall
Despite Peggy's less than friendly last encounter with Abe, the two begin a relationship following a chance social outing with Joyce. Stan can smell Peggy's resulting sexual energy. Unaware of Abe, Stan tries to exploit what he sees as Peggy's want for sex. And Trudy has gone into labor. But as Peggy states, when something good happens, something bad always happens. The bad is the rumor of Lucky Strike abandoning SCDP, which comes into the firm through the back door i.e. not from Roger, the one and only person in the firm dealing with that account. But once the rumor spreads amongst the partners, Roger does confirm the rumor but does whatever he can to hide the fact that he's known about Lucky Strike leaving for some time. The loss of this account potentially could mean the end of SCDP, especially if this news makes current and potential clients feel uncertain about SCPD's future. The partners try to put on a brave face to the staff, who are asked to be more diligent than ever with current accounts. This news has an affect on all staff, including in their personal life, and on Joan and Roger's relationship. Desperate times call for desperate measures as the partners try to exploit a grieving family, and Don tries to exploit a personal relationship. Despite Roger's denial of any wrongdoing with the account, he takes the brunt of the blame internally, which dampens the joy of a parcel waiting for him at home.
12Blowing Smoke
Sally is continuing on with her therapy sessions with Dr. Edna, who believes Sally is progressing so much that the frequency of her sessions can be reduced. However, Sally is also having unofficial therapy sessions with Glen Bishop, about which Betty is unaware. Betty feels the need to speak to someone herself about life, but doesn't want it under the guise of therapy sessions. She will really need to speak to someone after she makes a discovery, which in turn may set Sally's therapy back. Meanwhile, life at SCDP is not getting any better following Lucky Strike's departure. Although Don has an off the record meeting with Heinz arranged by Faye, they have the same opinion as all other potential clients: business is a possibility in six months if SCDP is still in operation. Beyond Lane's need to deal with the operational aspects of the the business such as payroll, none of the partners has a concrete proposal to get them out of their predicament. And an idea from Peggy to Don is dismissed as being unfeasible. Knowing that everyone on the outside sees fear and desperation at SCDP, Don takes a unilateral and bold measure. Whatever the result, Don sees that his life isn't all that bad in comparison to others after he has a not so chance encounter with an old friend.
13Tomorrowland
The staff at SCDP are taking their opportunities where ever they come. After Don's diatribe in the form of the advertisement in the New York Times against tobacco advertising, he and Pete have a meeting with the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society for their business. It's not so much the advertising contract of a non-profit organization that they want but those of the businesses for which the board members actually work. They ask Ken to use some social connections to leverage some of that potential. And based on a social conversation Peggy has with Joyce, Peggy pounces on an opportunity for another contract, but has to work fast to get it. Within all these goings-on, Don is taking some time away from the office to take the kids to California, where he has to deal with some aspects of Anna's estate. But Betty, acting on an emotional impulse in the process of moving to a new house, thwarts Don's plans, for which he has to make some quick last minute adjustments to those plans. The result for Betty is a feeling of isolation. In California, Don, feeling emotional while thinking back to his friendship with Anna but also seeing his children and himself in a more relaxed setting and thinking about a comment from Faye about reconciling the Don and Dick sides of his life, also makes an impulsive decision which catches everyone in his life by surprise.
1A Little Kiss, Part 1
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.
2A Little Kiss, Part 2
Joan feels that she may be seen as dispensable from Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce when her mother shows her an item in the newspaper, which in reality is solely SCDP's dig at a rival ad agency. Joan decides to make an unexpected visit to the office with Kevin in tow to find out first hand if she indeed has a future at SCDP. That item in the newspaper has another unintended consequence for the company. Another item all the talk at SCDP is Megan's birthday gift to Don, some of that talk which gets a little out of hand. That talk becomes a problem for Don and Megan in managing both a professional and personal relationship. What is foremost on Pete's mind is gaining more control at the company, which includes a larger office to show clients that he does wield authority at SCDP. He also figures out how Roger has been finding out about his meetings with clients and how he can get Roger to stop doing so. And Lane finds a wallet in a taxicab. Despite the fact that there is a lot of money in the wallet, Lane is more interested in something else in the wallet.
3Tea Leaves
Betty has gained some weight, which she can't shed for whatever reason, which in turn is making her depressed. Or is her depression the cause of emotional eating which is reason for her weight gain? Going to see a doctor for a prescription for diet pills, the doctor instead finds a growth on her thyroid, which may be cancerous and which may be the cause of her weight gain. With Henry not around when she receives the news, she turns to Don for emotional support. This news affects the Draper household. As Betty begins to think about her mortality, she also begins to understand that this tumor is a no win situation for her. Meanwhile, at SCDP, Pete is able to secure the Mohawk Airlines account once again, which is a small coup for the company. Pete begrudgingly assigns the account to Roger, since the Mohawk executives know Roger, and both sides will treat the account like their best drinking buddy. But they need to hire a dedicated copywriter for the account, someone creative but who also fits into that old boys network. Peggy is assigned to find that person. The end product of her search, Michael Ginsberg, brings her and Roger to a common point in their careers. The Heinz executives come up with the idea to rework The Rolling Stones' song "Time Is on My Side" for a commercial to target the youth market. Despite Don thinking it a bad idea, he indulges the client, with him and Harry the footmen in trying to set up a meeting with the band at one of their concerts. Trying to meet the band also makes Don and Harry quite aware that they aren't as young as they used to be. And SCPD's mock "equal opportunity" ad results in Don getting a new secretary, a black woman named Dawn.
4Mystery Date
Two news items affect the SCDP staff and their families. The first news item is the rape and murder of nurses in Chicago. Although Henry's mother Pauline, who is babysitting Sally while Henry and Betty are on a business trip, doesn't believe such news stories should be heard or read by someone of Sally's age, it ultimately becomes a meeting point for the two in what is otherwise an antagonistic relationship. It also initiates a meeting point between Peggy and Dawn, the two seeming outsiders at SCDP. The second news item is an airlines mechanics strike which has a different affect on Mohawk than it does on its larger competitors. As Mohawk is still operating through the strike, they continue on with their other business such as their advertising. This news catches Roger off guard, he who has to think fast or get someone else to think fast to get a pitch ready from scratch over the weekend. Meanwhile, Michael pulls a stunt at a client pitch meeting which threatens his job. Joan is eagerly awaiting the arrival home of Greg, who has completed his tour of duty. Greg comes home with some unexpected news which results in Joan making a decision of her own on the matter. And Don is chastised by Megan for once again being approached by one of his former or perhaps not so former paramours, this time a woman named Andrea. Don, who has a nasty summer cold, believes he deals with the issue of Andrea, especially if he can't hold off his adulterous urges.
5Signal 30
Lane is trying to break ties with his homeland. That doesn't stop Rebecca from making friends for her and Lane with the Bakers, compatriots from England. Lane does however feel that he can take advantage of this friendship with Edwin Baker by bringing his company's business, Jaguar, into SCDP, as Jaguar is trying to enter the US market. Despite being the sole Brit in the office and thus the logical choice in his own mind to deal with a fellow Brit, Lane has no experience in account management. The process of Lane learning how to become an account manager and him being the reason SCDP gets Jaguar's almost seemingly surefire account makes Lane evaluate his professional life. Meanwhile, Pete is feeling restless in his marriage, one result from which is eying a high school senior in his driver's education class. Life at work is different as he feels he is gaining more power in the office. A small measure of that office power is being able to convince a reluctant Don and Megan to attend a small dinner party at his and Trudy's suburban home. Pete's issues and Lane's issues come to a meeting point, the resulting incident which excites those who are witness to it. Meanwhile, Ken is continuing his writing, which he is getting published under a pseudonym. Ken wants to keep this part of his life a secret from those at SCDP, which may be difficult to do as he confesses to Peggy, who sees him with a possible publisher, and as Cynthia is more than happy to divulge her husband's success at any opportunity. This writing may become a problem for Ken in his life at SCDP.
6Far Away Places
The same day is seen through the eyes of three people: Peggy, Roger and Don. The start for the day is the same for all three: Roger invites Don on a boys only romp to visit the business of a client - the Howard Johnson's in Plattsburg - so that Roger can avoid an evening out with Jane later that evening. Don instead invites Megan to go along, which means that both Don and Megan will be abandoning the Heinz team at their pitch meeting that day, leaving that responsibility to Peggy, and that Roger is left out in the cold with regard to the Howard Johnson's outing. An incident at the Heinz pitch meeting leaves Peggy contemplating both her professional life at SCDP and her personal life with Abe. A second incident at Don and Megan's outing leaves Megan wondering if she can have both a professional and personal life with Don, or if she even wants anything to do with Don, while Don tries to regain some lost control over the situation and a situation brought to his attention the following day by Bert. And a third incident happens in Roger and Jane's outing, which is a party with friends of Jane's, the party to explore the use of LSD. Roger and Jane's musings to each other while they're high brings to the surface what each knows he/she is feeling and what each knows the other is feeling about their marriage.
7At the Codfish Ball
Don is receiving an award from the American Cancer Society for his anti-smoking editorial in the New York Times. He sees the award as a honor regardless of the fact that he has not quit smoking, that the editorial was purely a dig at Lucky Strike for pulling their business, and the people at the Society know none of this information. Roger and Pete plan on being at the awards ceremony to drum up business from the Society's wealthy Board members, who probably now see SCDP in a different league than all the other Madison Avenue agencies. Roger, still on a euphoric high (figuratively) after his LSD trip, turns to an unexpected source for help on this matter. Also attending the awards ceremony will be Megan's parents, Dr. Emile and Mrs. Marie Calvet, who have come to town partly on business, partly to see Megan and partly to meet Don and attend the ceremony. Upon meeting, Don knows that he has to do more than win a prestigious award to impress especially Dr. Calvet. A last minute attendee to the ceremony is Sally, who with Bobby, are unexpectedly staying with Don and Megan while Betty and Henry are out of town and as Henry's mother Pauline has broken her ankle, the latter incident which was Sally's fault but she who does not confess to it. The evening makes Sally feel grown up, especially as Roger treats her as his pseudo-date. Two incidents at the awards ceremony place a damper on the evening for Don and Sally. Meanwhile, the Heinz team are grasping at straws for ideas. A last minute good one comes from an unexpected source, which they have to act on quickly not only because of their imminent next pitch meeting, but also because of some yet as unknown news from Raymond Geiger. This situation brings Don and Megan closer together in all respects. And Peggy is concerned about whatever it is that Abe wants to talk to her about. His question catches her off guard as it does for Mrs. Olson.
8Lady Lazarus
Megan has been lying to her colleagues, including Don, about her whereabouts at certain times of the day. She is caught in the lie by both Don and Peggy. She is able to make up a credible enough excuse to Don, but Peggy confronts her on it. Based on that discussion, Megan decides to come clean to Don about what she's been doing. Don's reaction surprises her, which leads to a major change at SCDP. But Don's true reaction may actually be closer to what she had anticipated based on an encounter Don has with Peggy. Meanwhile, Pete is still feeling more fulfilled at work as clients, without even having met him, are giving him gifts. But he is feeling more and more restless at home, especially after he learns that his train commuting colleague Howard Dawes has embarked on an affair in the city. Taking a cue from Howard and given the opportunity, Pete embarks on a wannabe affair of his own, the "wannabe" part based on the insecurities of the other party.
9Dark Shadows
Betty is going to Weight Watchers to deal with her weight issue. Whether she wants to admit it or not, she is aware that her envy of Megan is part of her unhappiness and associated eating and weight gain. After an incident with Megan (of which Megan herself is unaware), Betty decides to use Sally as a pawn, which places Sally, Don and Megan in the middle of Betty's game, of which only Don seems aware. At the office, Roger is hustling for the Manischewitz wine account to show that he, beyond financing the company, is still useful in a day-to-day sense, and to show that Pete, who has lined up a potential major New York Times article featuring SCDP, is not the SCDP wunderkind he makes himself out to be. Roger's plan, the creatives for which he plans to pawn off as his own to the clients, includes the use of both Jane and Ginsberg, which doesn't sit well with Peggy or ultimately with Jane. And Don decides to go back into the creative realm, coming up with an idea at a brainstorming meeting with copywriters Peggy and Ginsberg on the Sno Ball account. Don ultimately shows how competitive he is against even those within the SCDP team.
10Christmas Waltz
Lane faces a personal cash flow problem when he is informed that he owes the British government £2,900 for back taxes, payable in two days time. He comes up with a scheme using supposed SCDP funds, which don't actually exist, in the form of Christmas bonuses to all staff, including to the partners. But one problem after another with Lane's scheme have the potential of bringing his entire world crashing down around him. It promises to be a busy Christmas season since SCDP is once again in the running for the Jaguar account, the pitch from agencies to be done in mid-January, giving them about six weeks to come up with a presentation. Meanwhile, Harry gets a telephone call from old colleague Paul Kinsey to meet, which Harry reluctantly does. Harry ends up meeting a much transformed Paul. Although Harry does not agree with the transformation itself, he does get caught up in it. As Harry guessed, Paul does ask him for a professional favor. When Harry doesn't believe he can accommodate Paul's request without compromising his own professional standing, Harry has to figure out what to do. He decides to help Paul out in his own way. And Joan has an uncharacteristic outburst at the office when she is served divorce papers there. In part using the work required for Jaguar, Don provides Joan with some much needed emotional support.
11The Other Woman
Most of those at SCDP are preoccupied by the upcoming presentation for the Jaguar account, that is except Peggy who has been given the task of managing all the other accounts in the interim. Not working on the high profile and lucrative Jaguar account and an incident with Don makes Peggy turn to an old colleague for advice, which in turn makes her reconsider her future at SCDP. As the Jaguar creative team - which consists of Don, Ginsberg, Stan and a few freelancers - brainstorm for ideas, which don't come easily, Pete and Ken schmooze with Herb Rennet, Jaguar's head of dealerships and one of three on the advertising account selection committee. Herb implies that SCDP will get the account if Joan as his plaything is thrown into the package. Pete takes this information directly to Joan and to the partners, which he tries to spin in a manner of Joan doing whatever is required for SCDP to get the account. Each of the partners is affected differently by the news either by their own relationship with Joan or their own personal situation. Joan, on the other hand, has to decide how offended she will ultimately be by the request even made of her. On the home front, Megan's fledgling acting career is again a potential sticking point in her and Don's relationship.
12Commissions and Fees
Don learns about Lane's forged check. Don's subsequent discussion with Lane and Don's unilateral decision about what to do about Lane's fraud without telling any of the other partners about the fraud itself lead not only to Lane making his own decision about his future but also Don beginning to think more about SCDP's future as a whole. Don's thoughts about going after bigger accounts leads to even more maneuvering in-house, this time affecting Ken and Pete most directly. Meanwhile, the Francises are planning on going on a weekend ski trip, on which Sally doesn't want to go. An exasperated Betty decides that if Sally is going to be a bother, she will send Sally to stay with Don and Megan regardless of what Don and Megan want. Sally's visit with Don and Megan adds to more strain between Don and Megan as they go about their own lives over the course of Sally's stay - Don's having to do with the work issue around Lane and its aftermath - which Sally tries to use to her advantage in testing the waters in her relationship with Glen, who she wants to be her boyfriend. But an incident while with Glen brings Sally closer to her mother.
13The Phantom
Among those who are depressed about their lives are Megan, Pete and Beth. Beyond getting what she believes are obscene phone calls, Megan is feeling that her acting career is going nowhere, especially after being duped by an unscrupulous agency who filmed a screen test for her. She feels she gets little support from her visiting mother, Marie, and Don. She uses a request from her acting friend Emily to what she hopes will be her own advantage, but she will need some help from Don to achieve her end goal, which he may not be willing to provide. Pete is still restless in his life, even more so when he sees Beth again, this time with Howard on the commuter train. He learns from Beth to where she is going which is directly related to her own depression. Her ultimate destination continues the vicious cycle which is her life. She hopes that Pete will be at least a minor sanctuary from that life. Meanwhile, Don, who refuses to see a dentist about a chronic toothache, continually sees visions of his dead brother Adam all around him. Roger has two immediate goals, both which he hopes will involve Marie. Peggy is trying to settle into her new job, which has some challenges. Without letting the staff know, Joan is looking for extra office space for the company especially in light of the company's somewhat flush financial state (ironic considering Lane's need for personal income, despite much of the company's up front investment being from him) and no one wanting the office in which Lane committed suicide. And the partners decide what to do to memorialize Lane, which garners an unexpected reaction from Rebecca.
1The Doorway, Part 1
It's December 1967 and Don is in Hawaii with Meagan on a working holiday. They're staying at the Royal Hawaiian hotel, a client, so that Don can get an idea of what it's like for their new ad campaign. He has an interesting encounter with an army private currently serving in Vietnam but on leave to get married. He has a proposition for Don. They return home to finds their doorman, who had a serious heart attack standing in front of them, on the job. Megan is concerned that her employers may be diminishing her TV role. At the office, the firm has expanded to include the floor above but Don is not too happy to find that his office furniture has been rearranged. Roger Sterling learns that his mother has died. Betty takes a motherly interest in Sally's friend Sandy who lives next door and whose mother died recently. Sandy has an adventurous streak that Betty perhaps wishes she had at her age. At her new employer, Peggy Olson faces something of a crisis when recent news may force her to redo an entire campaign. Written by
2The Doorway, Part 2
With Megan working everyday, Don has time on his hands. He attends a wake for Roger's mother but has had a bit too much to drink, leading to a memorable afternoon. Roger gets particularly upset when an unexpected guest arrives. His daughter is quick off the mark when it comes to the family's finances. Sally's friend Sandy has run off and Betty sets off to find her. She spends the better part of a day in a flophouse waiting for her to show up. She decides she needs a change in her life. Don's presentation to the Royal Hawaiian group doesn't go over too well. Peggy meanwhile seems to have found the solution to her ad campaign. The Drapers have a few of their neighbors over on New Year's eve....and Don seems to have reverted to his old ways. Written by
3Collaborators
At CGC, Peggy is feeling unliked by her underlings, as it is implied to her that she is too tough on them. Over at SCDP, two clients are causing minor problems. Herb Rennet at Jaguar wants Don and Pete to recommend a specific strategy to head office. Don doesn't agree with the strategy, but Pete believes they have to give him what he wants or risk losing them as clients. Can Don and Pete provide a united front at the Jaguar meeting? And Raymond Geiger at Heinz, head of their beans division, tells Don and Ken in confidence that he doesn't want them providing any business to their ketchup division, as he feels ketchup will steal all the glory away from beans that was built up at SCDP. This conundrum may cause more problems for SCDP than just figuring out if they should kowtow to Raymond, who gave them business when no one else was, or go after the more lucrative ketchup account. Meanwhile, the Drapers and the Rosens are becoming closer as two couples, as Don and Sylvia continue with their sexual liaison. This situation may become more difficult for Sylvia to deal with emotionally as Megan confides in her about a recent event. And Pete and Trudy are settling into suburban life, where flirting and open but implied sexual innuendo seems to be happening with many of their neighbors. This may cause some problems in Pete and Trudy's continual unspoken disagreement over how they live their lives. Written by
4To Have and to Hold
There is much going on at SCDP, both professional and personal. Don, Pete and Stan are the only people who are supposed to know about "Project K", which is a presentation for Heinz Ketchup, as they had a clandestine meeting with Tim Jablonski behind Raymond Geiger's back. If they don't get the account, no one is supposed to be the wiser. This three man team gets a few surprises with regard to this work. Dawn is feeling vulnerable as the token black person on staff. Joan, whose resolve is strengthen by a visit by her old friend Kate, exerts her power at the office, as she feels she is still treated as a glorified secretary despite being a full partner. And Harry helps Ken with a personal problem, which he thinks will boost his career. These issues in combination result in a professional standoff between Harry and Joan. Meanwhile, Megan's work is being noticed on the set of "To Have and to Hold" as she is given her first ever love scene, which she feels she needs to clear with Don. This work results in two personal dilemmas for Megan and Don, one which, on the surface, strengthens Don's need to be with Sylvia. Written by
5The Flood
It's April 4, 1968. Ginsberg is on a date, one he didn't want to go on, but was set up by his father at the last minute as a total surprise to Michael. Many of the staff of both SCDP and CGC are at an advertising awards dinner. Both these events are unexpectedly interrupted when news that Dr.
6For Immediate Release
Bert, Pete and Joan work with an underwriter to prepare SCDP's public offering, which is unknown to the other partners. If they get what they want, this public offering would make each of the partners a millionaire. Over at CGC, Ted deals with the news that fellow partner Frank Gleason is suffering from pancreatic cancer, which makes Ted think about the viability of their company. Otherwise, the thoughts in both offices are on cars. Herb Rennet at Jaguar has requested a business dinner with Don and Roger, which Don is dreading if only for his disdain for Herb and by association the Jaguar account. And CGC has lost the Alfa Romeo account. However, CGC is one of three short listed companies up for the account all advertising firms would do anything for: General Motors, to promote Chevy's yet unnamed new vehicle. Through a personal contact, Roger, unilaterally, maneuvers an unofficial meeting with Mikey O'Brien of Chevrolet. This news does not sit well with Ted, until... Meanwhile, Megan's mother is in town for a visit for Mother's Day. However, Marie's thoughts steer more toward Roger than with her daughter. Peggy has just purchased a new apartment in the neighborhood that Abe wanted, but it's not quite what she expects. Her mind also wanders from Abe and the apartment to work, but not for professional reasons. And Pete has an uncomfortable encounter with his father-in-law in an unexpected location, that meeting which could affect Pete both personally and professionally. Written by
7Man with a Plan
It's the first official day of the merger between SCDP and CGC, with CGC staff moving into the SCDP offices. Beyond the logistical issues of who will be housed where, the mood is generally cordial on the surface, with the exception of Pete, who feels like his usefulness to the company is and will be diluted with a whole new set of partners. His time is also preoccupied by his mother, who, with a case of dementia, is staying at his apartment as she was basically kicked out of of his brother Bud's house because of an altercation with Bud's wife. Some staff will definitely be gone and Joan knows that Bob helping her with a personal issue which she would rather the other staff not know about is primarily a means to keep his job. Bubbling below the surface is a competitive situation between Don and Ted as the heads of creative. Peggy feels somewhat caught in the middle of that struggle between Don and Ted. But much like Pete, Don's mind is not fully at the office, as he gets a call from Sylvia, who had just had a potentially marriage ending fight with Arnold. As Sylvia needs Don as an emotional and by association sexual outlet, Don in turn takes advantage of such to exert his sexual power on their relationship. Written by
8The Crash
Don has been loitering outside the Rosen's apartment. Sylvia sees the signs that he has been doing so and implores him to stop, although Don is desperate to continue the liaison with her. At the office, Ken has been taking the brunt of the issues with the Chevy account, he who relays to the partners that GM has provided a three year time-line with key deadlines, the next to take place the upcoming Monday in 72 hours. It's bad timing especially for the former CGC partners and staff as Frank Gleason has just passed away, meaning that some have to make a presence at the funeral, while others have to work the weekend for that next presentation to GM. To deal with a work related injury that Ken suffered as well as provide those working the weekend with a boost, Jim calls in his personal physician, who provides a vitamin and energy shot to most of the creative staff and partners to get them through the weekend to battle the probable exhaustion that would occur otherwise. The stimulant in the shot takes over the creative thought for most of the weekend. The shot in combination with a severe chest cold is making Don remember back to a situation during his puberty, relating both to his relationship with Sylvia as well as the Chevy campaign. Having to work, Don will miss his weekend visit with the children. As Megan has a theater date which she hopes to parlay into a stage role, she, as she has done before, leaves Sally in charge of looking after the boys. Their weekend is disrupted by an unexpected visitor. Written by
9The Better Half
Peggy still feels caught in the middle of what is going on between Don and Ted. Behind closed doors, she sides with Ted, while she can be totally honest with Don. The situation at home - especially in an apartment in an neighborhood she both hates, that hatred which is strengthened by an incident involving Abe - makes her think more about her previous kiss with Ted. Pete is feeling dissatisfied with his prospects at the merged company, and thus looks for possible other opportunities. Roger is focused on the children in his life. While he tries to be grandfather to Margaret's son, Ellery, he would rather be father to his biological son, Kevin, with Joan. Joan has other thoughts on the matter and how best to move on with her less than happy life. Without their respective spouses for at least the first day, Don and Betty attend Bobby's camp, he who is happy to see his parents together again. As they are alone together without outside pressures of what they need to do to keep up pretenses of their own personal situations in relation to each other, Don and Betty fall into old habits if only for their alone time. And Megan is having problems at work in developing her new "twin" character, which she thinks will get her fired. She gets some support that she doesn't want, while longs for the support that seems to have long abandoned her. Written by
10A Tale of Two Cities
The discussion of the Vietnam War at the Democratic National Convention, where many expect the party to come out with an official anti-war policy, has an effect on the populace and in turn the personal and professional lives of many of those at the merged company, which is still going through growing pains. They still have no name, and no consensus of a name on the horizon. And there is still an "us" and "them" mentality by many. But work continues. Don, Roger and Harry are heading to Los Angeles to deal with their Carnation and Sunkist accounts among others. The east versus "left" coast mentalities become evident. And between the three, there are differing priorities for this trip. But they all end up indulging in the California counter culture, which especially affects Don. Ted is dealing with the problematic Chevy account in Detroit. Jim is not happy dealing with the Manischewitz account as he sees it as a leftover of SCDP, the creative which is led by Ginsberg who he doesn't like (with the feeling being mutual). He sees Don and Roger's absence as a good time to clean "SCDP" house. Meanwhile, Joan sees an opportunity to turn a personal relationship into a business relationship with Fortune 500 company, Avon. She also sees this opportunity as a chance to get out of her glorified secretary role. But Joan's tactics may backfire on her. Written by
11Favors
Professional relationships and personal business intersect at Sterling Cooper & Partners. Peggy, hating her apartment even more because of an unwanted visitor, doesn't quite get the help she wants from a colleague in alleviating the matter. Ted, Pete and Peggy bond over a few drinks, which opens Pete's eyes to what's going on with his two colleagues, and which highlights what Ted's wife Nan is feeling at home. Pete appreciates the help that Bob provided to him regarding getting a personal nurse for his mother, until Mrs. Campbell divulges some information about the situation, which in turn ends up revealing one of Bob's motivations in providing that help. Don tries to help the Rosens with a major problem, namely the fact that their son, Mitchell, who sent his draft notice back in protest, has now been reclassified as 1A. Don uses a professional connection to try and solve that problem. That action by Don causes a further rift with Ted, who is already irked that Don was proceeding with Sunkist while they already have a promising account with Ocean Spray. That act, however, may make Don and Ted come to an understanding about their working life. On a purely personal issue, Sally and her friend Julie are staying at Don and Megan's while they attend a model UN conference in the city. Their initial encounter with Mitchell is one which they hope becomes more personal. A move by Julie on this front results in an action by Sally which may threaten her relationship with her father. Written by
12The Quality of Mercy
Another incident with company executives is the last straw for Ken in working on the Chevy account, most specifically in Detroit. While Ken will still retain account responsibilities in the office, the on the ground account responsibilities are given to Pete, who is buoyed by working on SC&P's most prestigious account. What Pete is not happy about is that Bob will still be working on the account, since Bob made a pass at him. As such, Pete calls Duck to tell him that he no longer wants to leave SC&P but that he wants Duck to find Bob another prestigious job lead but not necessarily find Bob that next job. After hearing back from Duck, Pete decides on a slightly different tact in dealing with Bob. Harry, still in California, gets news that Sunkist has reviewed their pitch and wants to get into TV, which would make their account much more lucrative than Ocean Spray. Despite the extra money, this move does not sit well with Ted, the creative lead for Ocean Spray. The work on Ocean Spray and St. Joseph's lead to almost everyone at SC&P realizing that there is a thing between Ted and Peggy, who both believe they are hiding their feelings for each other well. Their blinded devotion to each other causes problems most specifically on the St. Joseph's account, which each defends until called out on it. And Sally, still not speaking to her father after seeing him having sex with Sylvia Rosen, has decided to deal with the issue by asking her parents if she can go away to boarding school. Although Betty would truly like to know why Sally has made this decision, both Betty and Don support the idea, the latter who really does see it as a means to sweep his and Sally's issue under the rug for good. But Sally's interview and overnight stay at the boarding school may put Sally in a situation way over her head. Written by
1Time Zones
Don is on the outside looking in on the forced indefinite paid leave from his job. While Ted heads back to New York for a few days, Don takes the opportunity to head to Los Angeles in part to meet with a California transformed Pete while he reunites with Megan, who is living full time there while pursuing what looks to be a promising acting career. Back in New York, Peggy avoids Ted at all cost while she learns to deal with the new "Don", Lou Avery, most specifically on the Accutron account for which she is getting consulting help from Freddie Rumsen. On top of that, she is also having to deal with being a landlady to who she believes are overly demanding tenants. Ken feeling overworked leads to Joan taking over his scheduled business meeting with Wayne Barnes, the new Head of Marketing for Butler Footwear. Barnes' news results in Joan taking what she hopes will be seen as decisive and preemptive action in overcoming a potential problem, action which she hopes demonstrates that she ...
2A Day's Work
It's Valentine's Day, but there is not much love in the air. Don is still not feeling the love from the other partners, his job situation of which he has not told anyone outside of the office, that including his family. Dawn at least has agreed to keep him in the loop of what is going on in the office as best as she can. Sally, who is in town unexpectedly for the day, drops in on him, which leads to a further rift between father and daughter. Peggy forgets that it's Valentine's Day until she sees a bouquet of roses sitting in her outer office which she assumes are from Ted. Peggy spends most of the day trying to figure out what to do with the roses and how to deal with Ted from afar. Pete is feeling neglected, by Ted but more by the New York partners, most specifically Roger and Jim. A coast to coast conference call also exposes a problem between Roger and Jim. These issues in combination lead to a problem for Joan in orchestrating a session of musical chairs, the problem which is ...
3Field Trip
Don has a less than satisfying telephone conversation with Dawn, the ultimate problem being Don's remote location and Dawn having other priorities in the office. Then, Don has a telephone conversation with Alan Silver, Megan's agent, which leads to Don making a last minute trip to Los Angeles to surprise Megan. The surprise also ends up being ultimately less than satisfying for both. Next, Don sets up a meeting with Dave Wooster to talk business, which again ends up being a little less than Don wanted. All these events make Don come to the realization that he wants and is ready to go back to work at Sterling Cooper. As such, he talks to the one partner he believes is on his side: Roger. After speaking to Roger, what Don anticipates when he walks back into the office and what happens are two totally different things. Beyond each partner's belief when Don was put on leave, what happens is affected by an earlier meeting in which Harry was required to put out a fire on behalf of Jim. ...
4The Monolith
In a chance meeting with George Payton, Pete not only learns some news about his father-in-law, but also that a new national account in the form of fast food chain Burger Chef might be up for grabs, which would be a major coup for Sterling Cooper. The strategizing about what to do about Burger Chef takes into account the fact that Don is back at work, albeit in a much diminished capacity, as among the many stipulations are that he refrain from drinking at work except with clients, and that he report to Lou. Regardless, Lou, feeling threatened by Don's return, spends an on-going $5,000 per year of the company's money solely to get the issue of Don off his desk. Peggy is ultimately assigned head of the Burger Chef team, about which she is honored until she begins to realize that the assignment had some ulterior motives. Despite being back in the office, Don feels isolated, especially as he has no partner to which he feels he can turn, as Roger, his one ally, is temporarily away, and as ...
5The Runaways
Either by design or by accident, Stan finds out about what Lou does in his spare time, this activity which Lou *seemingly* wants kept secret. Stan decides he cannot resist spreading the news amongst the creative staff. This action places Stan in an awkward position, but places Don in a bind with regard to getting away to Los Angeles for the weekend. That last minute weekend trip is to visit with Anna's niece, Stephanie, who telephones out of the blue with the news that she is well-advanced in a pregnancy, and implies that she has no money and the father is no longer in her life. As such, Don offers to meet her at the Laurel Canyon house, with Megan taking care of her until he arrives. Don's Los Angeles trip ends up not being anything like he envisioned. On the personal side, a drug induced incident takes place, which by the sober light of day makes all feel a little embarrassed. But on the professional side, Don, by chance, gets hold of some information about goings-on at Sterling ...
6The Strategy
Peggy is persuaded into assigning Don to deilver the pitch for BurgerChef, but she is reluctant as to whether the work is good enough. Pete visits Trudy and his daughter, the result of which doesn't please Bonnie. Meanwhile, Bob pitches a proposal to Joan, bringing bad news to the company.
7Waterloo
The Apollo 11 space mission is in progress, which looms over the lives of those associated with Sterling Cooper. The success or failure of the mission will effect the existing feeling of brotherhood and camaraderie among the American populace, which in turn will have an effect on Sterling Cooper's business, especially how receptive the Burger Chef reps will be. But there is also much turmoil within the company. Jim has a vision for the company as being primarily Harry and the computer, as witnessed by Jim's approved motion to make Harry a partner. What has been bubbling under the surface but which has now risen above with a recent incident with the Sunkist reps is Ted's dissatisfaction with his life and his job. A unilateral move by one of the partners on behalf of all the partners leads to some divided loyalties among them, those loyalties between the people involved and what each may see as the good of the company. Regardless of the Apollo 11 mission, real life continues, an ...
8Severance
McCann Erickson's fifty-one percent purchase of Sterling Cooper has led to bigger changes to SC than most of the partners or higher account executives realize. The partners are now all millionaires, and they believe that they can leverage McCann's business to further their own. Topaz is one such account, which is causing problems for Joan and Peggy, the account leads. Topaz, whose primary business is affordable drug store hose, is being squeezed from below by Hanes' new mass market line, Leggs, which not only sells in drug stores but also supermarkets. In consultation with Don, Joan and Peggy go into a meeting with McCann account managers to discuss the proposal. The mixed results lead to an angry Joan evaluating the way she presents herself, while it affects a blind date Peggy has with Mathis' visiting brother-in-law. The Topaz account and another creative involving a commercial where the chosen model will wear a chinchilla fur coat makes Don think about someone from his past. What ...
9New Business
As his divorce reaches its final stages, Don learns from Harry that Megan is coming to town and wants Harry's help to find a new agent. Don stays clear of the apartment when Megan is scheduled to clear out her things, supposedly just a few boxes. Megan's mother Marie has something else in mind. When it comes time to sign the divorce papers, Megan tells him just what is on her mind. Harry meanwhile steps over the line. Don visits Diana the waitress who has relocated to the city and they begin a relationship. At the office Peggy and Stan disagree over the use of photographer Pima Ryan for a photo shoot. Peggy thinks she's an artist but Stan, also a photographer, thinks otherwise.
10The Forecast
Don has several opportunities to reflect on the state of his life and his future. First, he's in the process of selling his apartment. Melanie, his real estate agent, tells him what the state of his apartment displays to the outside world. Second, he's asked by Roger to prepare some materials for a McCann retreat that Roger is attending in the Bahamas, those materials which is to include a look into Sterling Cooper's future. That reflection is influenced by unofficial discussions he has on the issue with among others Peggy and Ted. Third, he has dinner with Sally and a group of her friends, before they are heading off on a summer educational tour. Sally opens up to Don about her feelings toward their family based in part on that dinner. And fourth, he gets caught up in some internal strife on those working on the Peter Pan cookie account, those people being Peggy, Pete, Mathis and Ed. Meanwhile, Betty learns that Sally has maintained a friendship over all these years with Glen Bishop,...
11Time & Life
While working on an account with Stan that involves children, Peggy muses about how terrible a mother she would be. Trudy is facing a difficult time getting Tammy into the pre-school she wants - a school at which a Campbell has attended for as long as Pete can remember - and as such, Pete decides to help Trudy smooth the waters with the school's administration to get Tammy a placement there. These and other personal issues take a back seat when a crisis occurs at Sterling Cooper from what looked to be a simple but devastating clerical oversight. That oversight was in fact not and was a calculated move. The Sterling Cooper partners want the crisis placed under wraps from the staff until they decide how best to handle it. Through the worries of the partners, Don believes he has stumbled onto a solution, which may take some maneuvering to achieve. One of those more difficult manoeuvrings entails getting Ken on side, he who still has hard feelings about being let go by Roger. As they deal...
12Lost Horizon
SC&P has made the physical move to the McCann Erickson offices. Some like Harry are looking forward to the new environment, some not so much. Several SC&P staff members are not going, some by choice, some not invited. One person's move that is delayed is Peggy, whose new office is not yet completed due to a mix-up. As such, she decides to stay at what is the largely empty and closed down old SC&P offices until such time as her new office is ready. She finds that it is a difficult period if only because of trying to do her work in a makeshift environment. Her final days at SC&P are illuminated by the few others who are straggling behind, one who is delaying the move by choice. Joan was anticipating a difficult move, being a partner at SC&P to a small player at McCann Erickson, which doesn't value the accounts on which she is working. Joan finds the transition even more difficult than she anticipated. One problem with a new coworker snowballs into another when she tries to rectify it on...
13The Milk and Honey Route
After leaving Racine, Don decides not to return to New York, but rather drive around the country, Sally one of the few people he has let know. He ends up getting stranded in Ava, Oklahoma, with car troubles. As he waits for his car to get fixed, he gets to know Del and Sharon, the owners of the motel where he is staying, and Andy, the motel's young housekeeper. All three and Del's closest group of friends affect Don's life in different ways. Don, in turn, ends up affecting Andy's life in more ways than one. With Don AWOL, Jim Hobart has called in Duck Phillips to find a replacement. Running into Pete at the McCann offices, Duck thinks he has a mutually beneficial arrangement for Pete. Pete ends up humoring Duck partly out of a sense of owing him a favor, not wanting Jim even to that he and Duck talked. But as Pete goes through the process, Trudy gets peripherally involved, which makes Pete think not only about what he is doing with Duck, but what he wants in his personal life. Back at...
14Person to Person
Many from Sterling Cooper are still evaluating their new lives at McCann Erickson and deciding if there is a future for them there. Roger makes two decisions in his personal life, one relating to his legacy. Pete has decided to start a new life with Trudy and Tammy in Wichita by taking the lucrative Lear Jet job. Peggy believes she's settling into her new McCann Erickson life, despite not finding the environment as easy to maneuver within as it was at Sterling Cooper. Peggy's professional path takes a possible turn with an offer by Joan, who seizes upon an opportunity initiated by Ken to reinvent her professional self. That new professional life may be at odds with Joan's personal life with Richard. What Peggy decides to do professionally may be influenced by a personal revelation that blindsides her. And Don is still traveling the country in his post-McCann retirement life. While doing some speed driving on the Bonneville Salt Flats, he finds out about Betty's terminal lung cancer ...
