- Megan convinces Don that she should give up her job at the firm so that she can pursue a career on Broadway, while Peter has a fling with an acquaintance's wife.
- Megan has been lying to her colleagues, including Don, about her whereabouts at certain times of the day. She is caught in the lie by both Don and Peggy. She is able to make up a credible enough excuse to Don, but Peggy confronts her on it. Based on that discussion, Megan decides to come clean to Don about what she's been doing. Don's reaction surprises her, which leads to a major change at SCDP. But Don's true reaction may actually be closer to what she had anticipated based on an encounter Don has with Peggy. Meanwhile, Pete is still feeling more fulfilled at work as clients, without even having met him, are giving him gifts. But he is feeling more and more restless at home, especially after he learns that his train commuting colleague Howard Dawes has embarked on an affair in the city. Taking a cue from Howard and given the opportunity, Pete embarks on a wannabe affair of his own, the "wannabe" part based on the insecurities of the other party.—Huggo
- Peter Campbell is surprised to learn from Howard Dawes, with whom he commutes daily on the train, that he now has a girlfriend. Howard even managed to convince his wife that they should keep an apartment in the city. Pete's not sure how he gets away with it but when when he gets off the train one evening, he meets Howard's wife, Beth. She's locked herself out of her car and with no Howard in sight, he gives her a ride home. They also end up making love though she's less receptive to his subsequent pursuit of her. At the office, Megan is keeping a secret from Don but finally breaks down and tells him the truth - she has secretly been going on casting calls and wants to pursue her dream of being an actress. She repeats that she hates the advertising world, despite her obvious knack for it. Peggy Olson for one doesn't understand and while Don supports Megan's choice, he too doesn't quite get it.—garykmcd
- "Mad Men" - "Lady Lazarus" - May 6, 2012
Pete is joined by Howard on the train. Howard's complaining about his lean month. Pete cuts him off at the pass and says he has no interest in life insurance. Howard gives him the sales pitch saying Pete's policy through work probably pays SCDP not him. Howard says he has a spectacular new "side dish" in the city. Pete wonders what Howard's wife Beth thinks. Howard says his wife isn't worried because he has good life insurance apparently.
Megan gets a call. She goes to the pay phones to return it so she isn't seen or overheard.
In the conference room Stan and Ginzo are giving their agitated presentation for Chevalier Blanc, taking cues from the screaming girl mobs of "A Hard Day's Night." The tagline: "Chevalier Blanc, it may be more trouble than it's worth." The Chevalie Blanc guys-- one of whom is gay-- love it and want a Beatles soundalike for the soundtrack. The SCDP men are on the job. The CB execs leave. Ginzo asks about the applause. Don says it was the client's idea, of course they clapped. He tells them to make sure to get guys that look like the gay guy to star in the ad. Don asks about the music, Stan and Ginzo offer several soundalikes: Herman's Hermits, the Merseybeats, the Zombies. Don stares blankly and says he'll ask Megan.
Roger calls Pete into his office to tell him that the head of a ski company told him he wants Pete to handle his account and has given him free skis already. Roger says Pete is making a name for himself. Pete is skeptical about Roger's enthusiasm for this. Pete takes the skis that are being proffered.
Megan meets Don in his office at the end of the day and he wonders where she's been. She says she's been working. Don asks when music became so important. She says it's always been important. He says he knows from jingles but not these specific sounds people want. She says he likes specific. He replies that he doesn't know what's going on out there. She charitably says it's hard for anyone to keep up since it's always changing. He invites her to a client dinner. She declines in favor of work. She promises she'll see him at home.
Pete is drinking late in his office. He goes to leave, with the skis, Peggy notes his late departure and the skis, which he comically drags away. Megan is walking out looking cute. Peggy thought they were working. Megan claims she's going to meet Don for the client dinner.
Pete runs into Howard's wife at train station and she's worried Howard fell asleep on train. She's also locked her keys in her car and asks Pete for a ride home. She basically admits that she knows her husband is cheating on her. And she sort of bemusedly notes that Pete's a stranger and he knows where Howard is and she doesn't. She also notes that he must be from Manhattan because he's an awful driver. Pete admits he just learned. She says she could never live in the city because of all the hobos and the panhandlers, who her father disdained when she was young but for whom she has a soft spot. She asks Pete if it's harder to lie to her now that he knows her. When they arrive at her house she says she figures Howard wouldn't care if she was alive or dead. She ges out. Pete follows her into the house and says she's being very dramatic. He grabs her by the shoulders and says he isn't leaving until she's not hysterical.
She starts kissing him. He stops her and says she doesn't know what she's doing and just wants to get back at Howard. They totally make out, she ups the ante asking Pete if he isn't worried that Howard's coming home any minute? They do it right there on the living room floor.
After she says she used to be reckless like this. He gazes at her and rubs her face and says he can't believe that happened. He asks her to say something. She says in her experience men don't care what she says, they just watch her lips move. She comments on his blue eyes looking like the earth from space. She says it can never happen again. They get up and get dressed. He tries to kiss her and she says she means it. She tells him to get home. She lights a cigarette. He says he doesn't want to leave her now. She says why not, she's fine now and is going to have a snack and go to bed. She thanks him for the ride home. He makes an attempt to brush his hair in the car.
The next day Pete calls Beth from the payphones and asks her to meet him in the city. She declines. Harry walks over to him and Pete waves him off. She lists the reasons this can't happen and tells him to leave it alone and to fantasize about it but not to call again.
Peggy, working late answers the phone and it's Don. He wants to know where Megan is so Peggy is confused. And now so is Don. She hangs up and they're both confused. Much later the phone rings again. Peggy answers and acts weird and says "Pizza House!" as if Don got the wrong number. He calls again and instead of answering she leaves.
Megan comes home and Don asks where she was. She says she went to have a drink with friends and lied to Peggy to get out of work.
The next morning Don, Peggy, and Megan ride up the elevator together. Peggy gives Megan the side eye and then confronts her in the bathroom. Peggy tells her not to do that again and make her lie to Don. Megan apologizes. She says she got a callback audition for a play and since she didn't get it they don't need to tell Don. Peggy is confused that Megan still wants to be an actress and Don doesn't know. And then Megan basically starts to cry and admits she wants to quit because she knows she'll never get fired. Peggy says she's doing a great job and points out that people would kill for this job. Megan is sorry she told Peggy. Peggy says she didn't tell her, Peggy caught her. Megan admits it's hard to talk to Don. Peggy says she can't keep lying to him. Megan points out how simple it is to give advice when it's someone else's life. Peggy says she's right, she doesn't care what Megan does and stalks off.
Ken and Stan and Peggy are meeting with Don about Cool Whip and talking about its head of desserts Mr. Wallace. Apparently, he heard about the Don/Megan banter for Heinz and wants a little song and dance of his own. Don wonders where Megan is. Just as Peggy says she isn't coming, Megan enters and Ken explains and says they'll go to the test kitchen and put on a little show and go from there. Don and Megan do a "bit" where a husband and wife banter about dessert and Cool Whip. "Just taste it" is the line and it's a twist on the dumb husband and the pushy wife cliche. Peggy wonders if Don and Megan are going to be in the ad, but they declined.
In the middle of the night, Megan wakes Don up gently. She says she needs to talk to him. He wonders what's wrong. She admits to lying and tells the whole story. She says she feels bad. He asks if she lies alot. She says no and says she didn't get the part. She thinks she was pretty close though and she was very excited and realized that she misses acting and she thinks she gave up too easily and doesn't even remember making a decision to stop. He doesn't look happy about this and tells her sometimes we don't get to choose where our talents lie and points out how good she can be at the agency. She says she felt better failing at the audition then she did about succeeding at Heinz. He tells her when she sees the work on a wall she'll feel more successful. She says she can't go to theatre anymore because all she feels is envy and she knows the next emotion will be bitterness and she doesn't want to feel that. He asks what she wants to do. She says she knows there's no guarantee and she's grateful for the job but she never tried as hard at advertising as she did at acting and it will never be for her what it is for him. He says he knows he put her in a tough position at SCDP but there are 20 firms that would be glad to have her. (He's so not hearing her.) She says she doesn't want to do it. She apologizes. She says since she was a little girl acting is all she ever dreamed about. He says he doesn't want to keep her from her dream. He asks what she wants to do. She says she'll finish up her work. She says he's so good to her and tells him she loves him. He says he loves her too. They snuggle but he looks pensive as she's relieved.
The next day at work he gives her a reassuring smile. He heads into Joan's office and breaks the news that Megan is leaving and today will be her last day. He wonders what the protocol is. Joan says the girls should take her to lunch and she'll take care of it. He seems distraught.
Peggy comes into the office and Megan cries and tells Peggy and Stan and Ginzo that she's leaving. She says it's hard to tell everyone. She apologizes. Stan and Ginzo have funny responses to her decision to go back to acting. They tell her to break a leg. She hands over her work to Peggy. Peggy asks if she's sure. Megan says she's always appreciated what Peggy has done for her. She walks out. Peggy says what Megan did was brave. Ginzo complains she owes him lunch money. Stan understands that she got sick of working her butt off for something like Heinz baked beans.
Pete arrives and Harry informs him of the Megan news. Pete is not shocked. Harry says the good news is they don't have to look over their shoulder anymore. Pete grouses about several thing: Megan and Don, the pictures of earth from space but he's really talking about Beth. Harry catches his drift. Pete wants to know why "they" get to decide what happens. Harry says they just do.
Megan says goodbye to Don at the elevator. She is tearful but resolute. He looks wistful. After her doors close he hits the down button as if to go after her but when the next elevator over arrives there is no car there and he looks down the shaft. Scary. "L.A. Law" scary. The doors close. (Apparently, he doesn't tell anybody.) He goes to his office and has a drink.
Stan, Ginzo, and Ken enter with the music for the Chevalier spot, the Beatles soundalike record. Ginzo hates it. Don actually thought it was the Beatles. Ken says it's the right thing. Stan and Ginzo leave and Ken asks what they're going to do about the test kitchen with Cool Whip since Megan's gone. Don says Peggy will do it.
On the train home Pete is surprised to see Howard. Apparently, it's his night to pretend all is well with his wife. Pete tells him he was right about his insurance policy and he invites himself over for dinner to do the paperwork.
Joan and Peggy debrief about Megan's departure. Joan thinks she's going to be a failing actress with a rich husband. Peggy thinks Megan is different, that she's the kind of girl that's good at everything and feels bad that she was hard on her. Joan points out that Betty was a model, and that's the kind of girl Don marries. She's kind of bitter about it too.
Howard and Pete arrrive at Howard's house. Beth is surprised to see Pete, who Howard says has an insurance emergency. Their kids are at her mother's. He pretends to be meeting her for the first time. Howard goes off to get paperwork and Pete presses info in Beth's hands about where to meet him and kisses her while Howard is out of the room. She says she doesn't want it. Howard comes back. Beth asks for a word. Pete tries to sneak away but Howard catches him and tells him Beth has a migraine but they can still have dinner.
Don arrives home and Megan is making dinner. Barefoot in the kitchen listening to the radio. She says don't get used to it because there's going to be a lot of crying from rejection. He tastes her very hot beef bourgoignon. She thought he was going to come home drunk. He reassures her it's okay. She tells him she loves him and says he's everything she hoped he'd be. He says you too.
The next day in the test kitchen Ken, Don, and Peggy try the different bowls of Cool Whip. Don and Peggy do the "dessert" bit but she doesn't do as good a job as Megan did and keeps flubbing the "just taste it" line. The Cool Whip guy is obviously disappointed. Peggy and Don then argue about Megan and the bit and what is going on and why she quit. Peggy says she trained her and spent 8 months defending her and that she thought advertising was stupid. Don counters that she really left not because advetising is stupid but because everyone she worked with was cynical and petty and that Peggy was threatened by her. Ken tries to intervene. They bicker and Peggy finally says "you are not mad at me so shut up!" Don goes to smoke and is stopped by the test kitchen monitor.
Pete waits in his room at the Hotel Pennsylvania where he told Beth to meet him. She doesn't show. He had champagne on ice. He's mad.
Roger meets Don in his office and they commiserate over Megan leaving. Don says she's following her dream. Roger thinks that Megan will be a great actress, not that she's insincere. Don says she's sincere. Roger muses he didn't get to choose what he wanted to do. Don says he grew up in the '30s and his dream was indoor plumbing. Roger thinks Megan wants a baby. Don says he offered that route on their honeymoon and Megan said his kids were enough. Roger says Jane wanted a baby but he thought "why do that to somebody?" Don wonders why shouldn't she do what she wants, so she doesn't end up like Betty or her mother. Roger tells him to establish a routine to keep them both out of trouble.
Don heads home and Megan is on her way to acting class. She bought him the latest Beatles album since he said he didn't know what was going on. It's "Revolver." She heads off and he puts the record on: "Tomorrow Never Knows." "Turn off your mnd..."
As the song plays:
We see Peggy working and sharing a joint with Stan at the office.
We see Pete walk to his car from the train with Howard. He looks over and sees Beth in Howard's car. She draw a little heart in the condensation on her passenger's side window for him, then rolls the window down and up again, erasing all sign of her secret message.
We see Megan lying on the floor at her acting class.
Then the song stops abruptly as Don picks up the needle.
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