Mad Men - The Flood

Welcome back, Addicts! I woke up this morning and got ready and it was immediately known to me that today would be a bad hair-day. This is not the best way to start your day. But, the weather beautiful outside, and I’m stuck in an office all day. Lucky me, right? Hey, there are a lot of people out there who would kill to be stuck in an office all day, so I shouldn’t complain. So yeah, I am lucky!

Last time on our little show, we saw the guys make a great pitch to ketchup, only to have Peggy’s team swoop in and steal the campaign away from them, and then they had beans leave them in the dust as well. Harry demanded to be made partner. Megan’s character on her soap got a steamy new sex scene and Don came to see it and pissed all over everything. Joan had a friend come and stay and they had a good old-fashioned Joan time around town.

Peggy is standing in an empty apartment while a realtor is listing off the stats of the place. Peggy complains that the building is a little farther east than she had wanted. The realtor of course does her best to build it up that it’s better than she thinks. The doorbell rings and Abe shows up. Peggy whispers to Abe and you can hear how excited she really is about the place. The realtor assumes that Abe will be the one making the payment and living in the place and that Peggy is just the helpful girliefriend. She’s shocked when he tells her that he’s just more of a helpful advisor, an “interested party” as Peggy says.

Bobby is staring at his wall. Remember Bobby? Don and Betty’s second child? He’s spent most of his time on screen as a mere prop. Perhaps this time he’ll get some actual lines or something! He gets a little OCD about it and starts to rip the wallpaper off. I can’t blame him, that would drive me crazy too. The paper comes off in tiny little strips, so when Betty calls him down for dinner, he pushes his bed over to cover it.

Don and Megan come down all dressed up. They run into Dr Arnold and Sylvia, with their bags packed. The Rosen’s are going to Washington DC because Arnold was asked to speak (last minute) at a conference. Megan is nominated for an award for one of the ads she worked on while still at SCDP. Don doesn’t seem to grasp the Rosen’s are going to DC. He’s told 3 times.  

Ginsberg comes home and we see his father with a pretty girl. Ginsberg’s story is so interesting to me, and I feel like he never gets the proper screen time. He was born in a concentration camp! How crazy is that?! Fusk thinks my interest in the Holocaust is weird. But come on! How can we not, as a society, stop and examine such a devastating and insane event that happened. You couldn’t even WRITE how that shit went down. Back to Ginsberg and the girl. They’re dad’s both play chess together. His dad pulls out a bunch of cash and tells them to go have a nice dinner. She was lead to believe that he was aware that the set up was happening. He’s sort of put off, but she is a pretty girl, how can you say no?

The Drapers arrive at the awards ceremony and they’re tucked away, right by the kitchen. Don says at least they’ll get to eat first. Ha! I totally agree. That usually happens at weddings. Megan wants to go say hello to Peggy, but Don’s wounds are still oozing. The two women embrace and Peggy seems genuinely happy to see Megan. There’s then an introduction of Megan to the president of Peggy’s firm, CGC. He gives her a very nice compliment and it sort of comes off as a pass. Peggy tells Megan about the apartment and when Megan reacts, Peggy perceives it as shaming. Megan convinces her that she shouldn’t justify it to anyone, she deserves her own place.

Roger comes to visit Don and he has a guest. His name is Randy and he’s in the insurance game. He wants to come for an official visit. This dude is weird. He wants to do business with SCDP I believe. He says that they’ve already had this meeting and it went well. So Don asks, “So where’s our check?” It’s a very weird vibe.

Tim comes in with his wife and when she wishes everyone good luck, he reminds her that Peggy is the only one that’s competing. She seems a bit put off by his correction. He sit his wife down leaving, one seat between her and Peggy, which he then takes. “So you’ve probably already worked out that you haven’t won. But don’t worry, there’s next year.” What? That’s awkward. Why would you say that? Can’t you let her have the moment? Even if she is going to lose, let her find that out on her own!

Then there’s an extra awkward moment when Abe shows up with drinks for Peggy and himself. HA! Tim assumed Peggy was on her own and took the spot. Way to look like an ass hat, Tim!

Ginsberg and the girl are on their date and he’s slurping down a bowl of soup. He asks if she likes kids, and then realizes that that sentence could come off the wrong way. She’s a teacher so he just thought he’d ask. He’s very uncomfortable, and she’s much more casual. He blurts out that he’s never had sex before. He realizes he’s making a screw up of this date. She reassures him that she’s doing this as a favor for her parents and tonight isn’t going to be the night for him, but she does think he’s very handsome.

Back at the awards show the guest of honor arrives, Paul Newman! Obviously since the man is no longer alive (Fusk puts on a sad face at the very thought of a dead Paul Newman, he was and remains to be a devoted fan) and it would be sort of shameful to put a look-alike up there, they don’t get close to the face. The SCDP gang is sitting so far in the background they can’t see him at all. He gets on a soap box about Gene McCarthy instead of Bobby Kennedy. It’s a very polictized speech. It makes no sense why he’s endorsing a candidate for president at an awards ceremony. Then someone shouts out from the background, “Do you know, Mr. Newman, sir, that Martin Luther King is dead?” There’s a gasp around the room and everyone is in disbelief.

The emcee gets up and says that they had hoped to keep the news until after the ceremony was over, but let’s all take a 10 minute break and then regroup and finish. Really? A huge political figure just was murdered. I’m not sure what the equivalency would be in today’s world. I think the days where a Martin Luther King could be influential are gone. With the media the way it is, if someone stepped forward as a true spokesman for something, 4Chann and Fox News would have all the skeletons they didn’t even know they had out in the open.

Back on the date they hear on the radio about the assassination. One of the African American cooks comes out of the kitchen and sits at the counter in shock. Flash to the Francis home and Sally, Bobby, and Betty are sitting around listening to the radio. Henry wants to know why they aren’t watching TV and Betty says because she knows what they’ll show. They already went through this with JFK. The 60’s were such a turbulent time in our country! So many prominent people died in 1968 alone. It’s insane. I’m waiting for the death of Bobby Kennedy to be included in the show as well. Henry leaves to go be with the Governor and to try and deter people from burning the city down in a riot. This is the first we’re seeing of Betty since she went raven-haired.

There’s a huge line waiting for people to use the phones. I can’t even fathom what that would be like. Ah, cell phones, we take you so for granted. Abe is all hot and bothered because the New York Times called him and wants him to go over to Harlem to cover the area for a story about the potential riots and falling out. Peggy is worried, but she lets him go anyways. They never say “I love you” that sort of bothers me. The lights flash and Peggy is horrified that they’re continuing on. “What else are we gonna do?” Don says.

He then embraces a distraught Megan and I want him to reach out his other arm and pull Peggy in too, but he doesn’t. Damn you, Don Draper! Do what I tell you to!

Bobby is peeling the wallpaper and Betty finds him. “I didn’t do it! It peeled off! I didn’t do anything!” Betty is mad but she doesn’t want to talk about it. She begs him to go to sleep.

Pete calls Trudy at home and asks how she is. She says that “it’s shameful” what happened. He is pleading to come out and stay with them because he doesn’t want them to be alone. Trudy stands resolutely and tells him they’ll be fine without him, and please don’t come. They’re supposed to go see her parents on Saturday but she tells him not to come, she might just cancel anyways. It’s clear she’s afraid, but she is standing firm in her convictions. Good for you, Trudy! And yet, I feel something for Pete. Could it be sympathy? I hope not, that means I’m becoming weak.

Don is at home watching the news listening about all the riots that are happening around the country. Megan is on the phone, arguing with her father in French about the tragedy of it all. “He said he applauded the escalation of decay.” Disgusting. There seems to be only looting in Harlem, while other places are on fire. They put the phone down and…

So Megan won, after all!

Don is back in the office and there’s hardly anyone there. Roger comes in and says, “The man knew how to talk. I don’t know why, but I thought it would save him. I thought it would solve the whole thing.” I’m sure a lot of people had that same mentality. Don makes a call to a hotel in Washington, trying to find the Rosen’s. He’s clearly worried about Sylvia, but can’t call just for her. He doesn’t get through and decides not to leave a message.

Peggy comes into her office and her receptionist Phyllis is waiting in her office. She’s African American and Peggy didn’t think she would come in. She offers her a hug and she gladly accepts. She said she knew it was going to happen, and that she’s embarrassed by these “fools” running in the streets. Peggy tells her to go home and that no one should be in the office at all.

Pete and Harry each come out of their desk looking for their secretary’s. Pete came in because he didn’t want to sit at home and have nothing better to think about. Harry came in because the clients are all in a tizzy about what happened and how it will affect their profits. They have a royal pissing match in the middle of the lobby.

Burt Cooper, who I’ve also been sorely missing, comes out and tells them to knock it off! He makes them shake hands and apologize. They do, but in a completely fake way that only escalates their fight. Pete calls Harry a racist.

Dawn arrives into the office and apologizes for being late. Joan has been trying to reach her all morning, trying to make sure she was alright. Joan comes in to see her and says that out of respect, they’re closing the office early today, but Roger’s insurance friend, Randy still wants to meet. Don tells Dawn she should go home, in a consoling manner. Dawn says she’d rather be here than at home.  

Joan gives her a very uncomfortable hug, to which she doesn’t reciprocate. Joan says how sorry everyone is and then leaves.

Peggy gets a phone call from her realtor about the offer that she put on the apartment. She insists that because of what’s happening the owner will want to sell the apartment quickly, and since the other buyer never gave an offer they should come in $5000 under the asking price and wait. Peggy doesn’t really agree, in fact she says nothing, but the realtor takes that as a yes.

Randy comes in and instead of shaking hands he merely gives everyone a wave. They offer him coffee and he says no, that he doesn’t even really want to talk. “I was trying to communicate without words, but it’s not working.” What? Randy is in the property insurance business and he wants to do an ad but his marketing director won’t allow it. “All I see when I close my eyes is our name and a Molotov cocktail being lit with a match. And then a coupon at the bottom.” What?! He knows it looks like fear-mongering but he thinks it’s the opposite of that because this is what came to him when he was visited by Dr. King the previous night. Dafuq?? Stan giggles. I’m sorry, but I can’t do better than the actual dialogue. “There is a tear, and in that tear are all the tears in the world. All the animals crying.” What!? Roger thinks that he’s using the days emotions to change his thinking. What in the hell happened there? That was the craziest thing ever!

Don is watching the news and Betty calls to tell him that he’s supposed to pick up the kids. Don thinks it’s a bad idea with everything that’s going on in the city. Betty thinks he’s just trying to weasel out of another night with the kids. She also thinks that since Henry can drive up there he should be able to as well. “I guarantee you’d go up to Canada on your knees you pick up your girlfriend.” BITCH! I’m reminded by I hate Betty. It works, and Don goes to pick them up.

Don wakes up to find Megan is taking the kids to a vigil in the park. Bobby isn’t allowed to watching TV but he’s sneaking glances while Sally watches. Bobby then says he doesn’t feel well, so Megan takes Sally and Gene out. Bobby plops down in front of the set as soon as Sally’s back is turned. Don makes him turn it off and then Bobby says he’s not allowed to watch it for a week. The next scene is of Don and Bobby at a movie theater, watching Planet of the Apes. Bobby tells him why he’s being punished, but only after some prodding. At the last scene of the movie Bobby is struck by seeing that the planet was actually New York City. Don offers to watch it again and Bobby is ready for more ape-y goodness.

Peggy gets a phone call from the realtor and she didn’t get the apartment. The agent tells her it wasn’t meant to be and hangs up on her. She has a tiff with Abe because he doesn’t seem invested in the apartment hunting and the sadness of the loss. He says he pictured them raising kids in a neighborhood with different kinds of people. Peggy is stunned for a split second and plays it off. This is the first time Abe has mentioned a real future together with her. She’s excited and very happy, but is playing it cool. They have a tender moment, but still no “I love you”. For a second I thought Peggy was going to propose.

As the Draper men wait for the second show to start, Bobby talks to an African American cleaner. “Everybody likes to go to the movies when they’re sad.” Bobby observes. Very true, kid. Very true.

Betty is waiting for Henry in bed. I’m really tired of her being fat. I would imagine so is January Jones. Henry has been thinking about where he is, career-wise, and he isn’t happy with some of the things the mayor is doing. He wants to do things differently. So he’s being offered a chance for the state senate. It’s a republican seat that’s unopposed. Betty is elated! She’s been asking him to do this from day 1. She also wants it for herself. She always was very proud to be Don’s wife because he was important. Imagine how obnoxious she’ll be as a state senator’s wife!

Megan and Don are getting ready for bed and Don is drunk. Megan is upset about the day and what’s going on in the world. She scolds him for being a lazy drunk of a father. Don says he doesn’t want to be this way; he wants to be the man who loves children. He gives a horrifying realization that didn’t always love his kids. Sad, but a true statement for him. He said there’s a moment that happens where the faked feeling of love becomes real. Megan is crying.

Betty goes and picks out one of her old dresses and holds it up against her body. She’s several inches too large for it. She has a look of pure sadness and disgust. I have a feeling Betty will develop an eating disorder or, as Fusk observed, try the crazy diet pills that start blooming around this time.

Don gets up and realizes that Bobby is still awake. He goes in there and tries to get him to sleep. Bobby is afraid. He’s scared that someone would shoot Henry. “Henry’s not that important.” Ha! Good one Don. Don goes out onto the balcony and has a smoke. He hears the sirens of the fires in the city and is exhausted.