Mad Men

The 1960s, dominated by the Civil Rights Movement, is a time of change throughout America, and for the Draper family, life has certainly changed. The children, Sally and Gene, must adapt to a new home, a new brother, and a new stepmother. Don, now living in a fancy new apartment with his sexy new wife, Megan, seems to have everything a man could want. However, Megan, still employed at the agency, has difficulty interpreting Don's expectations of her. His desire for a sex kitten at home and a prim and proper employee at the office, means Megan must learn to navigate the dual role while also struggling to earn the respect of her co-workers, many of whom believe that being the boss's wife is how she "earned" her new position. She throws Don a surprise birthday party, an unpleasant reminder to him that he has turned 40, but after Megan performs a risqué little number in front of everyone, Don is anything but happy. For other folks at the agency, life never seems to change. Peggy continues to be outspoken, Pete continues to feel unappreciated, Lane and Joan continue to wallow in their loneliness, and the first two named partners, Roger Sterling and Bert Cooper, continue to do absolutely nothing. « read less

As Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce tries to build upon its current business, Peggy is given new responsibility. Don and Harry indulge a client. Betty contemplates her mortality after seeing a doctor. Recap: The episode begins, and Betty's back and unable to fit into her dress, as she has put on a few pounds. She tells Henry to go to an event without her; as she is in no mood to go after discovering her weight gain. Meanwhile, Don's still working with Heinz on an ad and the exec's latest suggestion is to get the Rolling Stones to record something for them; as that might help the campaign and the product, in a big way. Meanwhile, Pete tells Roger that Mohawk called and he thinks he should handle the account since he seems to get along with them. They're going to need a new copywriter for this. Don has a new secretary—one of the applicants he has chosen from the recent interviews—and Harry makes awkward small talk with her while waiting to see him. When he does, he tells Don about the Stones concert and suggests getting food before which Don turns down; as he is too preoccupied to think about food at this point, and is clearly not crazy about the Rolling Stones idea. Pauline stops by to check on Betty after she didn't show up the night before and tells her it upsets Henry when she's not there. She suggests Betty take diet pills, in order to control her increasing weight. Don tells Peggy that Mohawk's returning, and with her plate full, they need her to find them a new copywriter. Roger suggests getting "a good-looking version of Don." Betty takes Pauline's suggestion to heart and goes to her doctor for diet pills for reigning in her weight, but first, he wants to rule out a medical problem as the cause for the weight gain, and he seems to find something. This leads to her calling Don to tell him the doctor found a lump on her thyroid, seeking his reassurance that everything will be okay; as she is visibly worried by this news. Meanwhile, Stan tells Peggy she should hire someone who's mediocre because otherwise, the new copywriter could end up being her boss. However, she likes Michael Ginsberg's portfolio, and decides he is apt for the job. Betty bumps into Joyce, who almost doesn't recognize her, at the doctor's office, and she ends up agreeing to have lunch. Michael may have an impressive portfolio, but he doesn't do so well in the interview with Peggy, and she is clearly not impressed. First, he's surprised to find out she's interviewing him because he wants to talk to the person who can hire him, not the first round. But he needs to impress her first, and he just points to his work, adding that he'll be living at work because he has no friends, hobbies, or interests, which makes him just perfect for such a demanding job. She warns him that he can't act like he is around her when he's around Don. Meanwhile, Betty's talking to Joyce about how she found out she's sick and how she's handling it when Cecilia, with the "gift of sight," walks over and offers a reading. When she looks in Betty's tea leaves, she tells her she's a great soul who means a lot to those around her. When Roger asks Peggy about Michael, she tells him Don will hate him. However, they have to bring him on because he already told Mohawk, and thus can’t go back on it now. Harry and Don go to the Rolling Stones concert, but apparently the band and their manager aren't there yet, so they end up talking to two girls, and Harry takes the offered joint while Don turns it down, as he is clearly not interested. Later on, one of the girls grabs Harry and says they're letting them in, leaving Don and her friend behind. She's realistic when she tells him they don't have a chance at getting the band for a TV ad and tells him to relax, rather than being worried stiff. Betty finds herself in the kitchen, watching her family all in black and Sally turning her chair over onto the table. Obviously, it's just a dream, in the light of the recent events. Harry runs over to Don and says he got it, but that's when the crowd screams and runs in the other direction to see the Rolling Stones. It looks like he was talking to the opening band, and not the Stones. The next morning, Megan wakes Don up to head to Fire Island to see her friends, and he asks if Betty called, as he is still worried about how she is, since she received the news. He tells her that she may be sick, but he didn't tell her because he didn't know how she'd react and knew Betty wouldn't want her to know. Megan points out that this would affect her too (if it was something serious) and doesn't understand why he could go to the concert but can't go see her friends; as each is as important as the other. Meanwhile, Peggy brings Michael in to meet with Don, and Michael says that he's opinionated, but has admired Don since the letter. He wants to be part of the place, and after he leaves, Don tells Peggy to set him up, as he seems to have liked him, contrary to Peggy’s estimation. Michael's excited to hear he got the job and wants her to be proud of him. Will he turn out to be a good addition for this account, is a question that at this point creeps into Peggy’s mind. Meanwhile, the doctor calls Betty, and it turns out the growth is benign; much to Betty’s relief. Betty's fine and Henry's obviously ecstatic, when he receives this news. However, now Betty says she's just fat, and needs to reduce. He's focusing on the fact that he feels like he's been given a gift. Meanwhile, Pete gathers everyone to announce that Mohawk's returning to SCDP and says that Roger's handling the day-to-day operations. However, he also says that he'll know everything Roger does, which Roger does not like, as is clearly visible from his reaction. Don follows him to his office, and Roger tells him he's tired of it. That's when Don decides to blurt out that Betty could have cancer and he's thinking about their children growing up without a mother; much to Roger’s shock and horror. Roger wonders when things will get back to normal. Later, Don calls Betty, but Henry picks up instead. He asks if there was news about Betty, who obviously didn't tell Henry she called Don. Henry tells him that she's fine rather coldly, and after he hangs up and Betty asks who called, says "nobody", clearly not pleased about Don calling up. Don though, is visibly pleased on receiving this good news, and tells Megan the news when she comes in; Megan too is visibly relieved and pleased to receive this news. Meanwhile, Betty finishes her sundae, and when Sally leaves the table without finishing hers—she's full—she begins eating the rest of hers as well; she is clearly too relieved to worry about weight at this point, and wants to celebrate her relief, by indulging herself. The episode ends at this point. « read less

Don is honored at a banquet for the American Cancer Society, but finds his professional reputation has been damaged. Sally lends a hand to a relative. Megan's parents come to visit from Canada. « read less

Don attempts to regain his creative spark, but undermines a member of his staff while doing so. Roger pursues some new clients, and in the process, hurts Jane. Betty displays her pettiness when she reveals a distressing secret to Sally. « read less