Mad Men #16 (2.3), 8/10/08: An episode that won't be nominated for an Emmy

Hey. They can't all be "The Wheel." This one's a slow episode, but I think it's setting things up for some future excitement.

It's Thursday.

Comedian Jimmy Barrett is shooting an ad for Utz snacks. He's brilliant, but he doesn't slow down when the owners of Utz, the Schillings, show up. They beam with delight to see their favorite comic perform, but then he begins telling jokes about Mrs. Schilling's weight. It takes Ken and Freddie a moment to realize what is happening. Within those few seconds, Jimmy likens her to a blimp, a buffalo, a movie screen, and a whale. Freddie tries to make Jimmy stop, but he's on a roll. Ken ushers the Schillings out.

Betty is at the horse place with her friend, Sara Beth Carson (not Mona Sterling as I had thought last week). Sara Beth is wondering what to get her husband for their ten-year anniversary. They notice that young guy that SB has been admiring; he's not very good with horses. SB says he reminds her of a movie character who learned how to ride in hopes of being accepted in monied society. His fiancee Tara Montague is there; she's amused by his incompetence. Trainer Gertie's contempt for the lad is plain. Betty tries to get away as they approach, but SB makes her stay and be introduced. Tara seems charming and polite, but reveals something of her true character when she says "I've done plenty of things for him, and I'd love to continue doing so."

SB tells Betty she won't be there for some event on Saturday because her daughter has a ballet recital. She dreads seeing her chubby daughter Becky in tights. (This was the girl SB said was saving her lunch money in her pencil-box last week.)

Harry gets Ken's paycheck by mistake and discovers that Ken is making $300 a week. He tries to swap out the torn envelope with his own, but mangles his own envelope even worse. He calls his nauseated, pregnant wife, who gets nervous hearing his tone; when she finds out what's wrong, she is furious. (He is trying to glue the envelope together.) She feels Harry should be paid more than Ken because he's married and has a kid on the way. And he works long hours. She's angry that he doesn't demand more money. He asks if she knows where he can find a windowpane envelope.

Don is watching a French film in a mostly-empty cinema. It's probably something famous, but I don't recognize it. It looks like a montage of photographs with a French voiceover and English subtitles that are too far away to read.

Hmm. Poetry two weeks ago, and now this. Do you think he misses Midge and her friends?

Sal, who seems to be wearing a wedding ring - perhaps Kitty is his wife - is cleaning up some artwork for American Airlines. (I guess this means they got that deal.) Harry asks him for a windowpane envelope, or to fix the one he wrecked; Sal advises him to throw it away (not in the office, since nosy people go through the trash) and then Ken will ask for his check and they'll cut him a new one.

Sal expresses subtle disgust at the $300 figure (he sharpens his pencil and says he wishes Harry hadn't told him). He says media is a meritocracy and Harry's not worth that much. Harry asks what they can do to be worth that much. Sal says the question just proves his point.

Lois buzzes Don and gets Ken's name wrong. It hardly matters since Roger and Ken are already showing themselves in. Roger bums a cigarette from Ken, even though the supply room is full of them; Roger says he doesn't smoke. (So if you smoke only in private, you won't have another heart attack? Is that how it works? Sweet deal.) Lois announces Freddie even as he is walking through the door. Ken says that Freddie's drinking is interfering with his job.

Duck actually waits for Lois's introduction before entering Don's office. They're going to lose Utz as a client! The Schillings aren't answering their phone; Duck (I may start calling him "Captain Obvious") says that "someone" needs to talk to Jimmy. Don thinks it's pointless to talk to Jimmy, but Roger says Don has to fix it. Duck blames Freddie for "getting" Jimmy drunk. Don says they should have told him the Schillings were there; he would have kept them away. Ken says he told Lois, but Don was out.

Don looks like a deer caught in the headlights. He backpedals and says he'll talk to the Schillings and to Jimmy. Meeting over. Roger stays behind and asks where Don was. Don says he was at the printer's. "You should tell your girl that," Roger says, stubbing out the cigarette.

Don calls Lois in. In an extremely rare flash of insight, Lois realizes what's happening even before Don utters the words. She doesn't understand why, though. He tells her she's incompetent. She whines that she tries to cover for him all the time. He says she shouldn't "cover" for him, but manage people's expectations. She doesn't understand what this means. He tells her to stick to switchboard jobs.

Harry's officemate, who's already been miffed by Harry's strange attitude once today, again wonders what's going on. He teases Harry for looking for "ways not to go home." Alone at last, he calls a friend at CBS. That friend doesn't have a job for him; in fact, he's losing sponsors over The Defenders. They're pulling out over an episode called "The Benefactor," which features an abortion in the opening scene. Harry asks him to send a copy to the office. The friend agrees, since he's pretty sure he'll be fired anyway.

It's Friday.

Joan says she'll be Don's secretary until they can replace Lois; there's a touch of sarcasm (and envy?) in her voice as she says she'll find him "another Miss Olsen" (Peggy). He wants to intercept Jimmy at the studio where he's shooting. Joan says he's been running about eight hours late.

Harry watches "The Benefactor" alone in a conference room. He's very uncomfortable; maybe he's thinking of his wife and the baby.

Don meets with Jimmy's manager Bobbie, who is also his "wife." She's scornful and uncooperative. He offers to drive her somewhere in the rain. They get caught in a hailstorm. Stuck in the car, she makes a move on him. He protests, but the third kiss attempt is the charm.

Now he's home. The kids want to go riding with Mommy on Saturday. He supports Betty in saying no. She asks him to babysit. Betty gives him his newly-repaired watch back, monogrammed. Hah! He feels cheap!

Now it's Saturday.

The young guy at the riding school isn't controlling his animal at all. He's letting her graze on the lawn. Betty scolds him for not being firm with the horse. He asks about Sara Beth. He admits he's afraid of animals and would rather shoot them than ride them. His fiancee doesn't understand. The men in her family all ride, but they don't work, so maybe they know something he doesn't.

Don calls Bobbie and sets up a formal restaurant dinner on Monday with him, Betty, Bobbie, Jimmy, and the Schillings. She's somewhat miffed that he's all business, "I'm at home with my children." She makes fun of him "being bad and then going home and being good."

Betty tells the lad, whose name is Arthur, not to smoke in the stables. He is flippant about the possibility of burning the place down. Betty is cold and harsh with him. He thinks Tara is jealous of Betty and Sara Beth. He's frustrated with their relationship. Betty warns him off. He tells her how rich and spoiled Tara is. He thinks Betty is beautiful and nothing like Tara. It bothers him that Tara doesn't need anything that someone else can't give her. Betty says he's just nervous about getting married, but it will be fine.

He says he thinks about her. Betty says she likes him and asks him not to say anything to spoil it. "You're so profoundly sad," he says. (I can't tell whether he's being sincere, or if he's just really good at this stuff.) "No, it's just my people are Nordic," Betty replies. He tries to kiss her. She pushes him away twice. He tries the profoundly sad line again. She says no, she's grateful. She lights a cigarette on her way out. Are her hands shaking?

Betty's still a little shaken up when she gets home. Don tells her about the fancy dinner at Lutêce. She's happy until he mentions Jimmy. From her reaction, I take it she's not a fan. He wants her to be fun and charming. She gripes about the short notice and that she won't have anything special to wear.

It's Monday. The madmen, including Peggy, are watching The Defenders. A man finds out his daughter has had an abortion; he insults her and slaps her. Peggy cringes in the back of the room. Elliot, from Belle Jolie - he's the man who had dinner with Sal in episode 8 last year and made a pass at him (I haven't finished the recap yet) - says he gets the idea. Peggy gratefully turns the projector off.

Harry wants to advertise Belle Jolie's lipstick on that show. They can get in for pennies on the dollar - the controversy will bring in eyeballs. Peggy, their de facto representative for the entire female gender, is asked her opinion. She loyally agrees, though something tells me she'll make an appointment with herself to never watch that show. Ken pipes in with an "idea" too, but Harry cuts him off - evidently the idea is already in the research materials he gave to Elliot. Don smirks at Harry's defensive attitude.

Elliot says Belle Jolie can't advertise with this kind of show. The company's owner wants a wholesome image. Don says they can't get much out of advertising on daytime TV alone. Elliot doesn't want his company to be "part of this debate." Harry pushes it, saying politics are "in" right now, and women will be watching. Don checks him with a glance.

The meeting's over. Elliot thanks Don and says he wishes Belle Jolie were a different kind of company.

Elliot asks Sal how it's going. Sal answers with a stiff "very well, thank you." Aaaaah. Smell that sexual tension!

Roger calls Harry into his office. Roger is vague and mysterious at first; Harry seems to think he's been busted for looking at Ken's check. (I wouldn't be surprised if Roger knew about that too.) But this is about the meeting with Belle Jolie. He and Cooper are impressed. He asks Harry what he wants. Harry says they need a TV department, and he should run it. Roger agrees; Harry is the head and sole member of it. He also asks for a raise; he gets $200 a week now and wants $310. Roger tells him not to be greedy - no one makes anywhere near that much. Instead he offers $225 and business cards. "You drive a hell of a bargain," Roger says. Harry leaves, looking like he's just been struck by lightning.

The Drapers and the Schillings are at Lutêce. (Betty seems to have found time to iron a dress after all.) Jimmy and Bobbie are late. Jimmy is in rare form. Betty pretends to like him. Jim flirts without mercy, asking Betty if little birds hang her laundry, etc. He's rude to the waiter and demands drinks right away. He asks Betty to tell him all about the horses.

Bobbie excuses herself. Jimmy continues to ignore everyone except Betty. Don excuses himself. He finds Bobbie and tells her Jimmy needs to do the apology before the appetizers. She says no, his contract doesn't say that he has to apologize; in fact they have to pay him even if they fire him. A public apology will cost them $25K and newspaper coverage.

Don reaches up Bobbie's dress, pinches her in a sensitive place, and threatens to ruin Jimmy. "Do what I say," he hisses. She seems disappointed when he lets go and goes back to the table.

Harry's wife is happy about the raise, but even happier that she can brag to her coworkers at the phone company that her husband is the head of TV at Sterling Cooper. He opts not to tell her about The Defenders. "You wouldn't like it." (Wow, he really is nervous about that baby!)

At the restaurant, Jimmy is still in fine form, and Betty is still pretending to be charmed. Bobbie comes back to the table and prompts Jimmy. He says he'd rather eat Utz chips than anything at Lutêce. "They have snails here, you know." He gives a spectacular apology to the Schillings. The air is cleared. Dinner can proceed. Don snaps his fingers at a waiter. (I didn't realize there was ever a time when this wasn't considered horribly gauche.)

Betty gets sniffly on the way home. She's happy because the dinner made her feel like a part of his life. "We make a great team."

Do we close with a different song every week? Believe it or not, I didn't notice till tonight. This one ends with "Lollipops and Roses."

Quote of the week: "I miss the Fifties." (Roger)

Next week: A lot more excitement.