- Don blows off the convention in Los Angeles when he meets a beautiful, exotic woman. Back at Sterling Cooper, a member of the creative staff comes out of the closet, and Duck falls off the wagon and initiates his power play.
- 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.—Huggo
- Don Draper and Pete Campbell are in California to attend a aerospace convention. Don's luggage goes astray but initially, he's all business. Until he meets some new friends, that is, and he finds himself off to Palm Springs leaving Campbell on his own. Back in New York, Roger Sterling proposes to his 20 year-old girlfriend but his lawyer warns him that the divorce will cost him plenty . Peggy Olsen agrees to go out on a date with Kurt who announces to everyone at work that he is a homosexual. Duck Phillips speaks to Roger about the possibility of a partnership. After Roger shoots him down, Duck approaches some European contacts with the suggestion that they buy Sterling Cooper and install him a President.—garykmcd
- "Mad Men" - "The Jet Set" - October 12, 2008
Previously On: Salvatore's wife felt invisible; Duck felt bad about his image; two new young ad guns- Kurt and Smitty- had not "settled down" yet; Mona was pissed at Don for implying that Roger should leave her in order to enjoy life; Duck is a teetotaler; Don decided to go to L.A. in Kinsey's place, and Joan enjoyed telling Kinsey that.
Jane is reading a poem she's just written about Roger as she lies on the bed of their room at the Sherry-Netherland hotel- it involves feeling "delicious and destroyed," how he makes her laugh, makes her feel older with his wisdom, the warmth of his pillow. Roger comes in surprised at his poetess. He gets in bed and nibbles her shoulder and says he has to keep her in line or he'll lose her. He doesn't like the idea of making her "older." She says it doesn't matter how old she is since their souls are the same age. They make out. He says she's getting to him. She wants to know how she can know this is real. Because he loves her, he says. She says she knows he doesn't want to talk about it but that it must be hard for him since Mona was such a big part of his life for the last 40 years. Thirty, he corrects and says he isn't being impulsive and that he wants her to be his wife. She's surprised. She can't believe he's serious. She nods yes. They make out.
Cosgrove, Harry, Peggy, and Sal are working on a Right Guard ad with the young guns. After Ken blathers on about focus groups who use the stuff Sal wants to know if anyone saw Loretta Young the night before and how awful it was. The young guns want food. The mice want to play since the cat's away.They gab and we learn: women's deodorant has yet to be invented, apparently; no one's heard from Kinsey in Mississippi; things are starting to get rough down there according to the papers; Kurt, the German one (?) doesn't have a TV-which everyone thinks is crazy. Kurt likes to go to concerts and saw Bob Dylan at Carnegie Hall. Peggy heard him on the radio. Peggy decides they should tell Right Guard that short of a new product just for women they need more research and time and they break to eat. As they leave Peggy asks Kurt about Dylan, saying she'd love to go sometime. He asks her to go with him.
Don stands smoking, in a full suit, by a hotel pool where the beautiful people are splashing. Pete sidles up and says this is why they booked a day early. Apparently, TWA lost Don's luggage and he's bummed. But they did recommend a tailor and a shop full of swim trunks. Don tells Pete, who thinks he has the day off, that he needs to target the leads Roger gave him and start working them so he won't be the 100th person to shake someone's hand at the actual conference. He seems annoyed that he needs to tell him this, squints and complains he's going to need sunglasses. Pete looks at the pool once more longingly and says "come on." Don says if Pete really wants to be on vacation he'll be glad to make that happen.
Don walks the patio and spies a blond at the bar who, from the back, looks like Betty. She turns around and, of course is not and is also much less attactive but as she walks by and we see Don see her from the back-but we see her from the front- it is actually January Jones (at least in Don's vision). He orders an old-fashioned at the bar and a European (German? Italian? French?) man with white hair and mustache approaches saying that he and his friends have been speculating about who Don is and what he does. Don wonders why. The guy asks if he's an actor or an astronaut. He is not. Which is good because this guy is the emissary for two pretty young things who only want to meet him if he's neither of those things. The girls walk over as the man introduces himself with a long title that begins with Vicomte, but tells Don to call him Willy. A young woman named Joy shakes his hand. She notes he looked so comfortable by the pool she wondered if he was waiting for someone. He says he is. Willy invites him to dine with them. He also has a young woman whose name is Rocky. Don says another time. Pete arrives and Don introduces them all. The newcomers depart. Pete complains that everyone here is late for everything and is excited he just saw Tony Curtis in the men's room. Their dinner dates, explains Pete are exec Rodney Barnes and an interesting scientist, Caleb Sawyer, who designs not only rockets but who also hopes to "engineer man" for space travel with new organs and super-strength. Apparently, Pete thinks the Soviets are also working on this. Don wonders if all their meetings are going to be like this. Pete says yes and then turns to the bar and asks "can I get a drink here or what?" Don looks longingly at Joy.
At SC Roger is having a drink with his lawyer George who wonders if Roger and Mona can't work out "one of those modern arrangements" and what will Roger do when he gets bored. Roger says she's not entitled to any of his money and she's lucky she's getting anything and they've been miserable for years and he doesn't want to die with "that woman." He gets pretty worked up and the lawyer tells him to calm down. He says this is the life he was meant to have. George congratulates him but says Mona wants to hurt him and that if he wants to be with this 20-year-old he's going to have to buy his freedom saying Mona has presented a list of conditions and an alimony request that could support Rita Hayworth. They break, Roger tells him to push as hard as he can. As they leave Roger introduces George to Duck who says simply, "actually we know each other." The two men regard each other for a moment, George leaves.
Duck enters Roger's office and Roger pours a drink. Turns out George was the opposing lawyer in Duck's divorce, it didn't go well. George is apparently the best next to someone named "Marvin Hughes." Mona has him, he's her cousin. Duck looks nervous for Roger. Roger slugs back his drink. Duck asks after a partnership, it's been two years and he thinks he's earned it. Roger says he'll bring it up at the next meeting of the partners and says he might need to come and advocate for himself. Duck says he'd be happy to. Which is good, says Roger, since he's at a loss. Taken aback, Duck wonders what that means. Roger says he hasn't delivered the 30 percent he promised. Duck wonders if there's questions about his value. Roger explains that Bert hates everyone, Bert's sister does what Bert tells her, and that Don isn't his biggest cheerleader. And if he was Duck- who they all think is a fine fellow- he'd go out there and make rain. Duck thanks him for his candor.
At the aerospace conference Space Technology Laboratories (STL) gives a presentation about ICBMs and MIRVs. They show slides about warheads and the Soviets. Don looks at the exploding bomb illustrations on the projected map of Russia and gets a little freaky.
As they leave Pete says these companies spend more on media than three Lucky Strikes and that it's a gold rush for SC. Pete is annoyed there are no valets. Don sends him on an errand just as Joy walks up big smile and kisses both his cheeks. She's headed to Palm Springs and invites him. He says he doesn't know. She wonders why he would deny himself something he wants and watches her get in her smart little convertible. He decides to go with. She asks if he wants to get his things. He puts on his sunglasses and says nope. Pete sits at a poolside table with the dinner clients and stalls, starting to panic a bit.
Don and Joy arrive at a swank pad in Palm Springs. A butler comes to take their things. She leads him to the pool, where a hot chick floats topless in the pool. Willy and Rocky are poolside as are Greta and Carlos. They meet Greta and Carlos, who is Spanish and looks a little like Antonio Banderas, and have champagne. Joy strips off her dress to reveal a bikini and tells Don he can get trunks inside or go "au naturel." Don, who is very sweaty, says he should go inside and promptly faints. Later, he wakes up on the couch with the International House of Fruitcakes standing around him. A doctor friend in swim trunks Klaus, diagnoses heat exhaustion and is about to give him some kind of injection when Don begs off saying he just needs water and aspirin. Joy orders everyone out. Klaus warns Joy that Don needs rest. Don sits up and asks "who are these people?" She says they're friends, nomads and that there's an open door policy at this joint. She brought him some clothes and says dinner is Mexican food and wonders if he's had it. He says no. He's going to like it she thinks. He drinks some water and lies back down.
At dinner the Europeans argue about Mexican food as Don enters to applause, in a polo shirt and khakis. They toast to Don's good health. Greta asks Don what his story is. He says he doesn't know how to answer that. He tells them he's from New York. They say they thought he was a spy but when his wallet fell out they learned he was in advertising. Or a really good spy he points out. Willy says it's funny how all these people are interested in professions since none of them work. Don says he assumes they're all well off. No one answers this. Willy says he should take something up since he's smarter than he's ever been. He asks if Don's an athlete. High school football. Willy was an Olympic fencer. (London and Helsinki). Joy smiles at Don. Greta wants to play places - players have to name a place that starts with the letter of the last place named. Don plays well. While they play Joy kisses Don. He likes it. His hair falls forward sexily.
Joy leads him to a bedroom and strips to her bra and panties. Don is amazed and asks how old she is. She's 21. He's 36. With that out the way she feels him and notes he's still firm. He asks "who are you?" "I'm Joy," she replies. They get down to business. She straddles him on the bed and takes off her bra. They make out.
Joan is opening donuts in the break room with Harry, Smitty and Kurt, a gift from a client. Sal enters excited about lemonaires (sp?). Ken and Peggy enters. Kurt reminds Peggy of their "destination" at 8. Ken wonders where they're going. Dylan replies Kurt. Joan is all "isn't that interesting." Harry teases them saying "Peggy and Kurt in the village, oh my." Peggy grimaces and Sal tells her not to be shy and they're adorable. Kurt is all "you think Peggy and I?" They say they do and they laugh and Kurt matter-of-factly says "I'm a homosexual." Awkward silence. Ken says he doesn't think Kurt thinks he understands what that means. Smitty tries to stop his friend from talking more. Proving his facility with English is much better than they realize Kurt says "I make love with the men, not the woman." Peggy stares at the coffeepot. Ken's face falls. Harry says "what?", Sal blinks repeatedly. Kurt looks at Peggy and says "8?" Peggy says of course. As he leaves they all stand around surprised and Harry asks Smitty if he knew about this. "He's from Europe, it's different there. More for me," he says, eyeing Joan salaciously. Harry matter-of-factly calls Kurt a pervert and says how about that? Sal is in the foreground as he says this and his eyes flinch ever so slightly. Joan says he had her fooled but, unruffled, moves on to asking if Ken wants to invite the girls in for the donuts. Ken, looking troubled, says he knew "queers" existed but is surprised to be working with one. Smitty can't believe that Kurt is the first "homo" Ken has ever met in advertising.
The next morning Don leans over Joy who is reading in bed. She's reading William Faulkner. She was in school but it was not a good fit. Don asks if it's good. She replies the sex was but the book is only so-so and explains she likes sex. (Presumably this is something Don has just learned.) She can tell he does too. They hear yelling through the walls. It's Greta and Carlos. Willy walks in and sits on the bed. Don seems a little freaked by this. Willy announces that someone named Christiane will be arriving with the kids. Willy points out how beautiful Don is. We learns through a cryptic set of back and forth that Willy is Joy's father. He leaves. Don asks "that's your father?" Apparently they act the way they do because he doesn't want people to think he is old.
Back by the pool Pete is trying to convince a client to come to him since he can't drive or convince a taxi driver to take him to Pasadena.
Duck meets with two British men in a restaurant. Duck declines a drink and lays it on the table, saying he misses the British way of doing things. Charles says that two years ago Duck said he wanted to come to New York and be with his children. Duck says "they've grown." Charles says it's not a good time. Duck says he won't take no for an answer. Charles says if they were hiring he'd be at the top of the list. The other Brit toast their noble profession and Duck picks up his newly delivered martini and reluctantly takes a sip. Then downs the whole drink. Duck wonders if they think he has nothing to offer. Charles says of course not. Duck points out they do business with over 20 American companies and he knows they want a U.S. presence. He offers to bring them every account at Sterling Cooper, by saying they should buy it. Charles didn't know it was for sale. Duck lets this cat out of the bag: Roger is going through a nasty divorce and will be needing some cash. Charles asks the other man to leave. Charles wonders if Roger sent him here with a price. Duck says 51 percent would be cheaper than he thinks but the catch is he has to be president and in charge of all American accounts. Charles thanks him for thinking of them. Duck picks up another martini and says "to old friends."
Kurt comes to pick up Peggy. She offers him wine. They drink. She hopes he wasn't embarrassed at the office. She says if he has a man he would like to take to the concert she would understand. She says she doesn't understand why she picks the wrong boys. He says she's drinking sad. She asks what's wrong with her. He says she's old style and touches her bangs. She says she's not. He touches her hair again and says that she doesn't have the look of a modern working woman. She asks what he's talking about. He offers to fix her.She says they should go but he says they can see Dylan anytime. First he's going to give her a haircut in her kitchen, he assures her he's very good. She's nervous and says "just a trim." He scissors off her ponytail and hands it to her.
In the pool in Palm Springs Willy and Rocky make out, Don and Joy sit in the shallow end, drinking. Joy says they're headed to the Bahamas. When Don wonders why she says "it's what we do, something about taxes." She thinks he'd like it. They make out. She takes off her top. She offers to take him along. She says her father will take care of him since he likes Don because he's beautiful and he doesn't talk too much. She says she's not possessive, he can have anyone he wants. A man arrives carrying a small girl, with another older boy at his side. This is Christiane. He wants to know if Isabel rang. Apparently, he's sick of her attorney and that since these are his children they should be with him. Don gives them his and Joy's room. They depart. Joy swims off. Don watches Rocky and Willy make out and then at his glass.
Joan enters Ducks' office with a case of Tanqueray. The card simply says it's for him. He offers her a bottle as a finder's fee.
On TV Sal, Ken, and Peggy are watching news of riots in Oxford, MS- where Kinsey is- when Pete enters. (Peggy's rocking her cute new "That Girl!" 'do.) Pete has a tan and Sal notes that Don must've let him off the leash. They point out President Kennedy on the news and wonder if Pete has heard the news. He has and thinks it's strange. Peggy asks after the trip and Pete -who's brought back a bag of oranges- says it was spectacular business-wise but wouldn't want to live there. Sal would like to see it for himself and Ken wonders what's wrong with it. Pete says the people, and he's glad to be home. Pete wonders if Don is back. Peggy thinks not. He wonders what's different about her. Her hair. He seems to approve. Over his shoulder Ken says nonchalantly "Kurt's a homo." Pete looks at him queerly. (No pun intended).
Duck walks through the office. He stops and pulls out a mint. He goes in to see Roger and Bert promising that the international divisions of several large companies- General Motors, Bird's Eye and others- could all be part of Sterling Cooper. He says his old London buddies (Charles Shaughnessy's character is named Saint John Powell) called him up saying they wanted to open up a New York office to deal with their American clients. He says they loved the idea of "sticking a key in the door" at SC. Bert looks at Roger, who's skeptical wondering if it's as solid as American Airlines. (Which you'll recall Duck promised but did not deliver.) Duck quietly goes on the offensive saying he guesses they're happy struggling in the third tier of this industry. He says mountains of money, the chance at going public, and international prestige will be on the table and they won't have to change their name. Roger says he guesses they could think about it. Duck says that's not good enough. He needs to know that they're open to it, and if so he'll give the Brits five business days to impress them with an offer for a controlling interest in SC. Bert says "there he is, there's the man I heard so much about." Duck smiles. Bert wants to hear the offer.
Don is lying on a couch in white shorts listening to the kids play in the pool. He picks up his little black book and grabs the phone. He calls someone, says it's Dick Whitman and he would love to see them soon. He's smiling. He grabs a pen and writes something in the back of Joy's copy of "The Sound and the Fury." He says he'll see them soon and rips out the last page. (At a distance the first name looks like "Kay.")
We cut to a suitcase being placed on a stoop and door being rung. It's Don's luggage being returned to his house in Ossining, NY. The man knocks but no one answers.
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