- Joan finds Don the perfect secretary, and Don finds himself in the middle of issues between TV comedian Jimmy and his wife, Bobbie.
- 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.—Huggo
- Don Draper accepts Bobbie Barrett's invitation for a drink to celebrate the fact that she has sold a pilot for her new TV show. While there he runs into Rachel Mencken, who is now married. After a few drinks they decide to go off to her beach house on Long Island only to have a serious car accident on the way. Don, who was driving, fails the sobriety test and has to call Peggy Olson to help him out when he doesn't have enough cash to pay the fine. Peggy also lets Bobbie stay at her apartment as she doesn't want to have to explain her black eye to her husband. She gives Peggy some advice on how to get ahead at the office. Joan hires a new secretary for Don and the men are all quite interested. We learn through flashbacks that Don visited Peggy in the hospital after she gave birth. Pete Campbell is thrilled when medical tests confirm that his wife's inability to get pregnant isn't down to him.—garykmcd
- "Mad Men" - "The New Girl" - August 24, 2008
Previously On: Don's doctor warned him about his stressful lifestyle and high blood pressure; "Lovely" wanted a baby; Don fired his secretary Lois; Peggy thought she was capable of making her own decisions, Anita reminded her that the State of New York disagreed; Joan found a secretary for Don; Don got it on with Bobbie Barrett, wife of comedian insult comic Jimmy Barrett; Pete outed Don as an impostor and no one cared.
Credits:
Pete and Lovely have come to see Dr. Stone about their fertility problem. They've been trying for 18 months.
At Sterling Cooper, Freddy's telling Don a joke when they hear the ladies giggling from behind the door of the break room. Joan emerges, waving her hand in order to show off the engagement ring on her finger.
Dr. Stone is asking Pete questions about his medical history, alone. (Pete says he's never fathered a child, little does he know.) He says he always reaches "home base" and has no trouble with arousal. The doctor assures him that fertility has nothing to do with manliness. Pete claims he wants a child, of course, but then enumerates all the reasons not to have one. The bomb, for instance. Plus the economy, stresses at work, his father's recent death, and problems at home and with his in-laws. Pete says he tries not to think about it, his dad. (It's been a few months he says, giving us a time update).
Joan is showing off her ring and talking about her wedding plans with other ladies as Don's phone is ringing. He complains from inside his office that those aren't wedding bells he's hearing. Joan answers and it's Bobbie Barrett.
We see Bobbie on the phone, smoking in a bar. She announces she sold "Grin and Bear It." They're going to make a pilot. Jimmy and his cronies are celebrating. She wants Don to come celebrate with her at Sardi's, since she's being ignored. He says he's working, and declines. She coaxes him and says she's about to change her mind and hangs up.
Unsurprisingly, the next shot we see is Don joining Bobbie at Sardi's; the party has moved elsewhere. Jimmy left sulking because Buddy Hackett told him that Jackie Gleason didn't have to make a pilot, but instead went right to series. Bobbie says this is the big opportunity Jimmy is bound to ruin. Rachel Menken arrives with a man. In fact, she's now Mrs. Katz, and this is her husband Tilden. There's an awkward moment, and then the Katzes excuse themselves to see "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Don and Bobbie order. Hearts of palm salad for him, steak tartare for her. They toast the pilot. She talks about how she sold it. He is surprised that she really does Jimmy's business. She says it's the American way, to find a job and make yourself into it. She realized she knows how to negotiate for everything: hair salon, department store. He thinks negotiation is a bore. She wonders what it is he likes. He pauses. He says the answer is huge. She starts with wondering whether he likes the ocean. He does. She has a beach house, she wants to "have" him there.
The next shot is Don driving Bobbie, who is drinking from a bottle, out to the beach. She wonders if he likes bridges. He does. That's two things he likes. He also likes movies. He mentions a foreign one. She thinks they're sexy. She declares she feels really good. He says he doesn't feel a thing. Maybe because he's been drinking from that bottle, too. She starts to nibble on his ear and he closes his eyes in pleasure. He's drifted into the oncoming lane and as an oncoming car honks, he opens his eyes and the car spins to a crash on its side with Don piled on top of Bobbie.
At the police station, drinking coffee, Don's told he's at .15 percent, at the legal limit. He needs to pay the $150 fine. Don has $63 and some tokens. The cop is a hard ass, saying that he needs the full $150. Don offers to send out an employee tomorrow with "the full $500." The cop says he believes him but that the fine is $150 and that people's kids are out on that road and to call someone or else he'll lock him up for the night. He calls, oddly, Peggy, who shows up with $110. Bobbie waddles out dazed and drunk.
Peggy is driving, Don is in front, Bobbie is lolling in back. Peggy says to warn her if she's going to be sick since this is her brother-in-law's car. Don asks to be dropped off at Grand Central. Peggy offers to take Bobbie to her house since Jimmy can't see her like this. (She's got a shiner). Peggy tells Don that what he needs to do is rent a car. Don tells Peggy that no one in the office can know, and that this was "business." Peggy says he has to believe that she can forget because she doesn't want him treating her badly because she reminds him of this. She says it can all be fixed.
Don tries to sneak into his house but Betty is still awake. She wonders where the hell he was. He says he was in an accident. She says she knew something was wrong. He says he went to the doctor and was told he had high blood pressure. He says those pills mixed with the drinks made him lose control of the car. She's mad he didn't tell her about the blood pressure thing and call him about the accident. He says he didn't want to worry her and he was taking care of the problem and involving her wouldn't have helped. She says who cares if she could've helped, she's his wife and he should've called. She reminds him that he promised he wouldn't disappear like that anymore. She says she doesn't care about the car, her father has high blood pressure. He says he's going into the office because he doesn't want anyone to know about this. He promises to swing by the doctor's office on the way in.
Bobbie is calling Jimmy, saying she's at a fat farm since one of his friends made a crack about her ass. Peggy enters with her clothes and food for her. (She picked up Bobbie's clothes at the dry cleaners, so that Bobbie would have something else to wear.) She says she's going to hit the hay since she's not used to being up all night. Bobbie picks up one of the magazines Peggy brought and talks about Marilyn Monroe on the cover, joking she's glad she doesn't have her problems. Bobbie really wants to go to the benefit this weekend where Marilyn will be performing for the president's birthday party at Madison Square Garden. Peggy brings the linens for the couch for Bobbie. Bobbie holds her head, Peggy is worried she's going to die like the little boy who hit his head on the playground, fell asleep and never woke up. Bobbie is glad she has company. Peggy apologizes. Bobbie says she keeps forgetting the accident. Peggy says if she's lucky the accident will disappear. She asks if Peggy is her secretary, and Peggy says "No, but we work together."
Joan is showing Don's "new girl" Jane around the office. Jane's a college graduate so Joan expects her to jump right in. She says they'll both be handling Mr. Draper for the time being. Joan shares her news and shows her ring. Jane claims to be "a little clairvoyant" and tells Joan that she'll be very happy. The boys -- Cosgrove, Crain, and Kinsey -- arrive as the welcome wagon for the new, and very pretty, girl. Don arrives and give Jane a terse greeting. He's sporting a sling on his arm and a cut on his forehead. Cosgrove comes in to speak to Don, who blames the sling on a missed bottom step at home. Cosgrove says he got an urgent call from Jimmy Barrett to see Don. Don says to put him off for a few days and drinks some Alka-Seltzer.
He calls Bobbie at Peggy's. Peggy puts Bobbie on. She didn't think he'd call. He mentions that Jimmy wants to meet with him. She says that Jimmy bought her fat farm story so she doesn't know what it's about. They check in with each other, both say they'll be okay. Peggy offers to play cards, Bobbie declines. Bobbie has to know why Peggy is doing this. She says she doesn't know, because Don's her boss. She says he's done a lot for her, by making her a copywriter. Bobbie says she probably made herself a copywriter judging from all the books in her apartment. Bobbie wonders aloud, "He's a decent man isn't he? You wouldn't think he would be." Peggy says she never expects him to be any other way than what he is.
We flashback to Peggy in the hospital and the doctor saying to a pregnant Anita and Mrs. Olson that Peggy has a "psycho-neurotic" disorder and will be kept for another few weeks since she isn't able to make her own decisions yet. Peggy wakes up and her mother and sister leave so she can be asked some questions by the doctor: year, president, where she is. He wonders if she knows why she's in the hospital. She says she doesn't know, that she doesn't feel like herself. He tells her she's on medication to relax her and help her talk. He reminds her that he told her that she had a baby. She swallows and looks away. The doctor leaves.
Pete walks into a bathroom with a cup. It's sperm test time. There are girlie mags to help get him in the mood. The scene immediately cuts to:
Roger loudly and rapidly whacking away with a paddle ball his office. Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack! (Geez, talk about a not-so-subtle audio comment on Pete's sperm test scene!) Joan walks in, and Roger congratulates her and wonders why she wants to join the club. She says it hasn't stopped him from having a good time. He asks the doctor's age. He's 34. Roger responds, "What's wrong with him?" and digs that it's nice to hear the story of "relatively young love." She wonders if he's being a concerned daddy. He tells her the traditional "jar of pennies" anecdote -- that all the sex happens during the first year of marriage, and none after that. Joan says she's never been unfaithful to any man she was with and that she always thought Roger was unhappy with Mona, not the institution itself. He tells her, "You aren't just another woman, Joan." She says it doesn't matter now, since fell in love. He says it makes him sad, just another reason not to come into work. She says she's not going anywhere. He says, "Yes you are, you'll see." He offers to give her a couple of paddles for good luck.
Peggy and Bobbie have a crazy awkward coffee klatsch in Peggy's apartment. Since Peggy lives alone, Bobbie says her presence must really be a kick in the head. Peggy says company is nice and notices that Bobbie's eye has improved. Bobbie plans to cover the purple bruise with green eyeshadow, an old showbiz trick. Fun fact: Bobbie used to be a dancer. She asks Peggy if she is in love with Don. She doesn't answer. She abruptly wonders if Peggy is in love with Don. Peggy says no. She tries the same question phrased differently. Peggy says it's a personal question and she's already answered it. Bobbie agrees. Bobbie asks Peggy why she doesn't ask her the same quesiton, and Peggy responds, "It's none of my business." Right again, says Bobbie. Bobbie calls her young and beautiful. Peggy says she's not her competition. (Elisabeth Moss has this terrific flat affect but still manages to be pointed, very impressive.) Bobbie says that's sweet and compliments her place. Peggy says she's been trying to fix it up. Bobbie says it takes her back. (Presumably to her younger days. It really seems like Bobbie is trying to be nice but Peg keeps undercutting her compliments).
At the office, Jane the new girl, legs crossed by her desk, is being ogled by the boys. Joan shoos them off. Joan says she sees what Jane is doing and is disappointed. Jane's decolletage is distracting and not appropriate for a professional office. Jane apologizes and buttons up. Joan tells her to get a sweater at lunch. Joan says to be reasonable, that there's still plenty to see and Jane knows that. Jane seems pleased to have gotten under Joan's skin.
Cosgrove comes up to say he's got an important client coming in to see Don, trying to impress Jane. She asks what Ken's title is. He says "title?" He's Ken...Cosgrove...accounts. Jane notes that in her book she sees that he's coming in with Jimmy Barrett. Ken tries to impress her again by offering to take her to see Jimmy's act. Freddy runs out and plays Mozart on his zipper, like an idiot.
Bobbie is applying make up to her eye with a compact. Peggy comes out and offers the mirror in her bedroom. Bobbie says it's part of the process of learning to live without Peggy's hospitality. Peggy says it's nothing. Bobbie says that's not true and wonders if Peggy was aware of the value of her services. Peggy pshaws that it's "what you're supposed to do." Bobbie disagrees, that people will take advantage of her. Peggy says she knows what she's doing. Bobbie asks her what she wants or if she's just some busy little bee building a hive in Brooklyn. Peggy wonders if Bobbie is still trying to say thank you. Bobbie tells her start living her life as if she's the person she wants to be. Peggy wonders if that's what Bobbie did. Bobbie advises her that she's never going to get the corner office until she starts treating Don as an equal, but warns her against trying to be like a man. She should try instead to understand the ways in which being a woman can help her get ahead. It's powerful business when done correctly. She asks if Peggy understands. Peggy says she does.
At the Campbell house Pete walks in as Lovely is serving up dinner. She says that the doctor's office called, and Pete's sample was "quite viable." Pete is pleased with himself and relieved. He toasts his own manhood. Lovely is not as happy. She concedes that it's a relief and then sadly says that now she knows it's she that is the problem. He says now the doctor can "blow up your ovaries or do whatever his cutting edge plan is." This sends Lovely into a tailspin of hurt and she storms off. He points out that since she was the one who wanted to do this, she must have knwon that this was a possible outcome. He yells at her to come back and sit down. She returns, apologizing, saying she didn't think it through. He asks, who says they have to have kids? Just because it's the next thing to do? She says it's natural. He says he's having a great time and that kids prevent you from traveling or going to the movies, unless you have help. And that, he says, is expensive. She calls him immature. He complains that he just did a very private thing in a very public place for her and she doesn't like the results. What does she want him to do? She says he needs to express concern and stop worrying that he won't be able to go see "Cape Fear" for the third time. He gets up and grabs his coat saying he's glad they don't have kids so they don't have to see this kind of "donnybrook." He yells, "Either you make it through this thing or you just keep it to yourself. I'm giving you that option." She gets up and apologizes and says she just really does want a baby. Otherwise, she asks looking around the apartment but talking about their marriage, what is all of this for without it? He says he doesn't know. Instead of eating at home they decide to go out.
At Peggy's she's cleaning up the couch after Bobbie and is pensive. We flash back to the hospital again. She awakes to see Don at her bedside, she wonders if it's really him. It is. She wonders why he's there. He says because she got a promotion and disappeared. Her mother told him it was TB. She apologizes. He asks what's really wrong with her. She says she doesn't know. He asks what "they" want her to do. She says she doesn't know. He says she does and tells her to do whatever they say. To get out of there and move forward. "This never happened. It will shock you how much it never happened," he says. She nods weakly.
Don, Sal, and Pete are meeting in Don's office about a client, the one associated with Pete's client. Peggy enters, apologizing for her tardiness, saying she's behind because she was sick. Don gestures to his arm saying he did his work. Peggy says she'll get it done. Sal and Pete leave and Peggy closes the door. Don asks what's up. She apologizes for being unprepared. He says not to let it happen again. She says it's just that $110 (the bail she paid for him) is a lot of money for her. He apologizes and gives it to her, saying "I guess when you try to forget something, you have to forget everything." She says, pointedly, "Thank you Don." Noticing that she addressed him by first name, Don arches his eyebrows in surprise at the shift in her tone as she leaves.
Jimmy and Bobbie arrive at Don's office and Jimmy immediately starts to hit on Jane. Bobbie and Peggy exchange a look. He calls Ken "Blondie" and tells him to wait outside.
In Don's office, Jimmy sincerely thanks Don for convincing the folks at Utz to let him do the show, saying that he knows he didn't have to, considering how he behaved. Don asks why he'd do that. Jimmy says he wants Don to know that "I'm not a bad guy." Don says he didn't have to come all the way here to say that since Don already knows it. Jimmy says "No one knows it." He shakes Don's hand and calls him a cool cat. Bobbie says, "Goodnight Mr. Draper." Don closes the door, surprised and relieved.
Don arrives home to cries of "Daddy!," meatloaf, and a kiss from Betty. He looks for the salt. Betty has taken it away for his own good, she says. She promises he'll get used to it and asks what they would do without him. Sally asks why can't daddy have salt. "Because we love him," says Betty.
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