5G (1x05)
The episode opens with Don and Betty coming in the door from an industry event at which Sterling Cooper and Don both won awards. There's even going to be a photo in one of the local papers.They fall asleep in their clothes, and wake up the next morning, hungover. Not only that, but it's 8am, and it's a weekday. "S***," Betty mutters. Seriously folks, pay attention for the curses in this show - they're punctual and percussive and perfectly placed.
In the city, we learn that Ken Cosgrove (Detective Cole Phelps, to some of you) has had a short story published in Atlantic Monthly. He also has two completed novels at home, which Paul Kinsey says, genuinely, "don't even sound stupid!". Despite that, he, Pete and Harry are all both stunned and jealous of Ken's success as he hands out copies of the magazine around the office.
Don's first notable meeting is about Citigroup. They discuss a new account, for the discerning man. "Men need accounts beyond their family," he says. "Call it... an 'executive account.'" They table the discussion and break for lunch. Midge calls Don and has a fairly steamy conversation in which she convinces him to cut out for a while and come over. Unbeknownst to Don, Peggy overhears a good deal of this, as she had tried to place a call on the line he was on.
Don visits Midge for an afternoon delight, but afterwards, there are the first signs of cracks in this relationship, when Don chastises her for the phone call. "I'm sorry your life is in a million pieces," she says. "I like being your medicine."
At the Campbell residence, Pete and Trudy are discussing Ken's story. Turns out Pete has a story of his own, and that Trudy's "first" is in the publishing business. Pete wants her to see if he can pull some strings. She hesitantly agrees.
The next day, the principal parties of Sterling Cooper are in a meeting, discussing all the various matters of business. Peggy interrupts. Someone by the name of Adam Whitman is here to see Don. Don calmly rushes to the front desk. "It's you. It's really you. Dick," Adam says, awestruck. Don plays dumb. Adam says he is Don's brother. He saw the photo in the paper and knew it was his brother Dick. Don dummies up at first, then relents, and agrees to meet him at a diner.
"What do you want from me?" is the first thing out of Don's mouth. His brother explains how he thought Dick was dead, about how lonely his life was after Dick disappeared. He's clearly got some serious abandonment issues.
"Why did you leave me?" he asks.
"I couldn't go back there," Don replies.
Adam rambles on a bit about how he knew it was his brother in the paper. "Donald Draper! What kinda name is that?" he asks.
"What difference does that matter? People change their names. What happened to... her?"
"Mom?"
"She wasn't my mother. She never let me forget that."
"She's gone. Stomach cancer."
"Good."
Meanwhile, in a Manhattan publishing office... Trudy's old flame didn't enjoy Pete's story, though Trudy doesn't seem to pick up on that fact at all. He's more interested in making a pass at her. He misses her. He wants her. He says he can keep a secret. She turns him down.
While Don is at lunch with Adam, Betty arrives at the office with the kids in tow. They have an appointment for a family portrait that afternoon. Peggy freaks out, thinking that Don is late to return from lunch because he is off with Midge. Peggy has so little grace under pressure; she runs right to Joan, who has it in spades. Joan calms her down, bails her out. Peggy just has to keep them entertained.
[continued]
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YES! GO BOSTON! - Naye