The Unfiltered Ramblings of a DVR Addict

Mad Men Season 3, Episode 13: Shut the Door. Have a Seat

The Season Finale had me on the edge of my seat!  I immediately re-watched the episode after my first viewing.  I wanted to make sure I caught everything.  Last week we left off with Betty telling Don she doesn’t love him anymore and Pete Campbell led by his wife, Trudy, to gather his clients. So what’s in store for them all…?

The episode starts with a shot of Don waking up on Grandpa Gene’s cot; the Draper family is in peril.  Later Don meets with Connie and learns that PPL is being sold to McCann Erickson, which includes SC.  Connie is ending his business with Don because of the sale.  Don grows angry because he signed a contract with SC, but Connie just tells him it is business.  I can see why Don is upset, it is not fair, but life isn’t fair.  He even tells him that he got his success all on his own.  That was the spark that got Don going….

There is a flashback to when Don was young and sees his father at odds with his wheat coop.

Next meeting is with Cooper to inform him of the sale.  Cooper isn’t surprised and is open to what Don is proposing….buy SC from PPL.  The only it will work is with a big account-Lucky Strike, which means Roger Sterling needs to be involved. 

Since Don isn’t an ad man, they need Roger’s experience.   So, is Roger in?  He is after Don apologizes to him for not recognizing his contributions to SC.  Roger tells Don that he doesn’t value relationships.   The best part of this exchange is Cooper trying to convince him that retirement equals death.

At the Draper home, Betty tells Don that she wants divorce and is meeting with lawyer.  Don is clearly upset and tells her she should see a doctor (like last time).  Is she sick because she wants out of this marriage?  Is she the one that broke this family up?  Don tells her she has had a tough couple of weeks, but Betty remarks, she has had a tough year.  The next scene with Betty is her meeting with a divorce attorney along with Henry Francis.  What are her options?  Since she doesn’t have any evidence of adultery, the attorney assumes she is an adulterer; NY State has tough restrictions when coming to divorce.  He advises that she go to Reno and set up residency, quickie divorce.  Also, Henry Francis wants to take care of her and the children-not owe Don anything.

At SC, Don, Cooper and Roger invite Lane to a meeting.  They tell him to shut the door and have a seat…they confront him on knowing that PPL is being sold.  Lane replies, only SC is being sold, not PPL.  They pitch to Lane that they want to buy back SC for the purchase price plus 12%, Lane tells them it is worth more now.  Roger remarks, maybe next time.

Lane immediately calls Saint John on SC status.  He learns that PPL is indeed being sold.  Saint John tells Lane that he will put in a good word for him at McCann.  Lane is not happy being transferred back and worth working out transitions.

Don comes home to find Sally sleeping in his cot.  He flashes back to his father arguing with his wife on the crop that needs to be sold and financial woes.  Don (Dick) goes out to the barn to help his Dad when his father is kicked in the head by a horse. 

Next morning, Don arranges a meeting with Cooper, Sterling and Lane-why can’t they go to McCann directly, Lane tells them that it’s over and they were right about the PPL sale.  Don proposes that Lane fire them all, Cooper even offers a partnership.  What can Lane contribute?  What does he do?  If this is going to work, they need accounts ($$$), so far only Lucky Strike.  Lane will inform the London office Friday at noon which is after close of business there, so they will learn of the changes on Monday.  Lane tells them to gather (rather steal) materials, build skeleton staff and get accounts by the weekend.  This needs to be handled with the utmost discretion!  Immediately, my head was spinning…who will be invited to join the new SC and Pryce?

Don informs his secretary that the office is closed this weekend.  Peggy is called over-they are selling the company and Don is starting a new agency.  He tells her to join them on Sunday to help gather accounts; he assumes she is going to follow him.  Don replies that he isn’t going to beg her, but he didn’t even ask her.  Peggy retorts,” I don’t want to make a career out of being there so you can kick me when you fail.” Who does Don think he is?  I am conflicted, Peggy is lucky to be in her position because of Don, plus she should value that he came to her first and not Smitty or Kinsey.

Next up…Pete Campbell is approached by Sterling and Don.  He called in sick (interview with Ogilvie) and SC has been trying to contact him.  They tell him about the sale and they are starting to a new agency.  Pete becomes defensive when Roger tells them they need accounts-who does he have?  I love Trudy…she calls out to Pete when she hears him get fresh.  Roger tells Pete they need his accounts-what about Kenny?  They haven’t even approached him yet.  Pete wants Don to beg for him….Don is his super slick way compliments Pete on his eye for up and coming initiatives-aerospace, teenagers, African-Americans-they need him to keep them looking forward.  Pete wants to be partner and his name in the lobby-what lobby?  If he can deliver by Sunday he is in….no time to consider, name and title are a goal.  Pete springs into action!

Don and Roger share a drink; they can’t believe that Pete was going to leave.  Don asks for an attorney and Roger lets it slip about Henry Francis.  Don is surprised and Roger wishes he hadn’t said anything.  Later we see Don wake up Betty from her slumber.  He is drunk and angry and demands to know who the hell Henry Francis is?  Don accuses of her being soo good and brave and remarks that she never forgave him.  Betty is quick, she replies, “Forgave what? That I’ve never been enough?”  Don tells her she had everything she ever wanted, but now Don isn’t good enough.  Don threatens that she won’t get any money or the kids.  Betty retorts that she is going to Reno and that Don will consent and that’s it.  Don wants the kids because they are better off without her- I tend to agree, but how can Don raise them, plus build a new ad agency.  Don calls her a whore and Betty tells Don she wants him out.

Pete in the elevator with Harry Crane-Pete admits to being scared, but Crane doesn’t know anything.  Damn it Pete-shut up!  Harry was called in by Cooper-they invite him to join them in their new venture as Head of Media.  He wants to call his wife, but since this is time sensitive, Cooper scares him that they will have to lock him in the closet until morning.  Cooper, Lane, Sterling, Pete and Harry can’t make heads or tails out of invoices/charts or what not.  Sterling is going to make a call, you know to whom?  Where’s Don?

Betty and Don talk to the kids.  Don is moving out, at first he says it will be temporary, but Betty shakes her head.  Bobby thinks it is because he lost Don’s cuff links, but Sally grows upset.  She tells him that he says things and doesn’t mean them…Sally tries to blame Betty.  Sally walks away and Bobby clings to Don.  It was so hard to see the Draper family break-up. 

Don at Peggy’s door, she remarks that he looks awful.  Don apologizes to Peggy, “You were right.  I have taken you for granted and I have been hard on you.  But only because I see you as an extension of myself, but you’re not.”  Don tries to convince Peggy to join them-they need her and she is concerned that is she says no, he will never speak to her again.  Don replies that he will spend the rest of his life trying to hire you.  Commercial Break….is Peggy out?

Guess who is back…Joan!  They need help and Joan is back to work.  Don comes in with Peggy.  Pete has his accounts.  First step-Art Department, but no key…  Don to the rescue, he kicks the door down and everyone gets to work.  Earlier Roger states that he built the agency, but in reality he inherited it, it is nice to see him really working.  He tells Peggy to get him some coffee and she tells him no.  That whole exchange was so funny.  Everything is packed and being moved out, Don approaches Joan to help him get an apartment.  The last two to leave-Roger and Don, Roger wonders when they will be in a place like this again, but Don states he never saw himself in a place like that.  When it was time to lock up-Roger tells Don, why bother?

Next scene…Don’s secretary opens his office door and finds it in disarray.  She immediately yells they have been robbed.  Meanwhile, Lane is prompted by Mr. Hooker that Saint John has been trying to reach him all morning.  What in God’s name is going on over there?  Lane is fired-he directs Mr. Hooker to send his things to an address.

The new SC is assembled in a hotel room.  Joan has organized the staff, arranged for additional phone lines and furniture to be brought in.  She instructs the staff to have all meetings outside of the hotel.  The phone rings and Joan answers, “Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Pryce….how may I help you?”

Meanwhile at OG-SC, the staff is in shock over Don’s disappearance.  Kinsey inquires and marches over to Peggy’s empty office.  Kenny tells them Pete tried to poach John Deere.

Trudy brings lunch to SCDP and staff is elated.   I wonder if Trudy will be part of the new staff.  Don calls Betty to tell her that he isn’t going to fight her.    He also tells her that he hopes she gets what she always wanted with her remarking that Don will always be their father.  I guess it is over.  Don comes out to see his future.

Ending scene has Betty on a plane with Baby Gene and Henry Francis, Carla and the kids watching TV and Don getting dropped off by cab at his new apartment building.  The song lyrics in the background…the future is much better than the past…

So that’s it this season….Don and Betty are over, but SC lives on as SCDP.  I really enjoyed this fun episode.  I couldn’t wait to see who the new staff was going to be or if Don would completely crack over Betty’s infidelity.  Next season, 1964, will be a new start for all.