Don Draper has decided to give the vacant post of head account services to "Duck" Phillips, a man with a lot of experience and class. Pete Campbell is intent in getting the job. Since Don's mind is made up, Pete has to use his knowledge about Don Draper's past, something he learned when he stole the package that came to the office. The package contained photographs of Don Draper's previous life.
In flashbacks we are taken to the Korean War conflict in which a private, Richard Whitman is seen arriving at the front. As the position Pvt. Whitman is attacked, his superior, Lt. Donald Draper, is caught with Whitman in a place where they can't move. After the fire stops, Whitman accidentally drops his Zippo lighter, provoking an explosion where Lt. Draper dies. Richard takes the opportunity to get the dead man's identification and exchanges his own. At a hospital, later on, a purple heart is given to Lt. Donald Draper, who is asked to accompany the fallen soldier home. At the station, the lieutenant sees the coffin as it's being unloaded and watches the family that has come to meet the wrong man's remains while Adam Whitman spots his own brother inside the car.
The election night is celebrated at the office with a party in which all hell breaks loose. The junior executives try to make out with all the willing secretaries. Peggy is horrified and decides to go home. When she returns the following morning to a messy place, she reports to security what she feels is a break and has a few men fired because of her actions.
Don Draper visits Rachel Menken at her office. Suddenly, he is scared because of the ramifications his secret will have. He stands to lose everything. Don suggests Rachel leaves with him to California. She lets him know she has no intentions of going away and suggests he is not thinking about the dire consequences he faces.
At the office Pete Campbell comes to tell Don Draper how he wants to be named for the position he intends to give to Phillips. When Don refuses, Pete goes to mention what he has learned about his secret past. Don decides to call his bluff and goes to see Bertram Cooper. Pete follows Don inside. Don announces he has decided to bring "Duck" Phillips to the firm. Pete, furiously, reveals what he knows about Don, but Bert couldn't care less. After all, Bertram reflects, America is made of self-invented men and they have gone to make the country great.
Alan Taylor directed the episode which was written by Lisa Albert, Andre and Maria Jaquemetton. This is an amazing chapter in the series that brings to a head the confrontation between the sneaky Pete Campbell who's ambition is to get ahead, not because of being smart, but by blackmailing, backstabbing, and subterfuge.
Excellent acting Mr. Taylor gets from all the principals and guest stars. "Mad Men" shows why it one of the best television series in the last few years because it captures the essence of the era in which the action takes place with an eye to detail and a true account of the typical intrigues in that milieu.
In flashbacks we are taken to the Korean War conflict in which a private, Richard Whitman is seen arriving at the front. As the position Pvt. Whitman is attacked, his superior, Lt. Donald Draper, is caught with Whitman in a place where they can't move. After the fire stops, Whitman accidentally drops his Zippo lighter, provoking an explosion where Lt. Draper dies. Richard takes the opportunity to get the dead man's identification and exchanges his own. At a hospital, later on, a purple heart is given to Lt. Donald Draper, who is asked to accompany the fallen soldier home. At the station, the lieutenant sees the coffin as it's being unloaded and watches the family that has come to meet the wrong man's remains while Adam Whitman spots his own brother inside the car.
The election night is celebrated at the office with a party in which all hell breaks loose. The junior executives try to make out with all the willing secretaries. Peggy is horrified and decides to go home. When she returns the following morning to a messy place, she reports to security what she feels is a break and has a few men fired because of her actions.
Don Draper visits Rachel Menken at her office. Suddenly, he is scared because of the ramifications his secret will have. He stands to lose everything. Don suggests Rachel leaves with him to California. She lets him know she has no intentions of going away and suggests he is not thinking about the dire consequences he faces.
At the office Pete Campbell comes to tell Don Draper how he wants to be named for the position he intends to give to Phillips. When Don refuses, Pete goes to mention what he has learned about his secret past. Don decides to call his bluff and goes to see Bertram Cooper. Pete follows Don inside. Don announces he has decided to bring "Duck" Phillips to the firm. Pete, furiously, reveals what he knows about Don, but Bert couldn't care less. After all, Bertram reflects, America is made of self-invented men and they have gone to make the country great.
Alan Taylor directed the episode which was written by Lisa Albert, Andre and Maria Jaquemetton. This is an amazing chapter in the series that brings to a head the confrontation between the sneaky Pete Campbell who's ambition is to get ahead, not because of being smart, but by blackmailing, backstabbing, and subterfuge.
Excellent acting Mr. Taylor gets from all the principals and guest stars. "Mad Men" shows why it one of the best television series in the last few years because it captures the essence of the era in which the action takes place with an eye to detail and a true account of the typical intrigues in that milieu.