The Grown-Ups (1 Nov. 2009)

On the weekend of the John F. Kennedy assassination, Pete finds out that he lost the promotion to Cosgrove, Roger Sterling's daughter's wedding goes off as planned, and Betty musters up the courage to respond to Don's confessions.

Director:

Barbet Schroeder

Writers:

Matthew Weiner (creator), Brett Johnson,

Stars:

Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jon Hamm	...	Don Draper
Elisabeth Moss	...	Peggy Olson
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Pete Campbell
January Jones	...	Betty Draper
Christina Hendricks	...	Joan Harris
Bryan Batt	...	Salvatore Romano (credit only)
Michael Gladis	...	Paul Kinsey
Aaron Staton	...	Ken Cosgrove
Rich Sommer	...	Harry Crane
Robert Morse	...	Bertram Cooper
John Slattery	...	Roger Sterling
Jared Harris	...	Lane Pryce
Mark Moses	...	Herman 'Duck' Phillips
Talia Balsam	...	Mona Sterling
Kiernan Shipka	...	Sally Draper

Storyline

It's November 21, 1963, and no one seems to be particularly happy. The heating/cooling system at Sterling Cooper isn't working properly, so people are either freezing to death or sweltering in the heat. That is nothing compared to the news Pete receives: Ken has been made sole Vice-President of Accounts. This news makes Pete contemplate his future. Don is upset that no one has been hired to replace Sal, and it doesn't look like Lane is in any hurry to do so. Margaret Sterling's wedding is in two days and she is still upset that her step-mother, Jane, is planning on attending. Jane, on the other hand, is angry that Roger dotes on his daughter more than he pays attention to her. The unlikely allies in the Sterling family feud are Roger and Mona. But none of these unfortunate goings-on compare to the news the world hears the following day: that President John F. Kennedy has been assassinated. This news places a pall over the world, and makes people reconsider attending the Sterling ...

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 2009 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Movie Classics (AMC), Lionsgate Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Action takes place from November 22, 1963, the day John F. Kennedy was shot, until November 25, 1963 the day of the funeral.

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Connections

References Singin' in the Rain (1952)

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Soundtracks

"A Beautiful Mine"
(uncredited)
Written by by Rjd2
Performed by Rjd2

User Reviews

Great Coordination of Plot & History

Against the back drop of the JFK murder this script has some great touches in coordinating Don Drapers life with the actual event. While the country is coming apart seemingly at the seams with all the events in Dallas, Draper's life seems to be falling apart at the same time.

His biggest problem is leaving the key to his home desk drawer in his robe. His wife finds it in the washer and then finds out about his secret life and what he did in the past. She finds out about his divorce, and his family and house in California. Betts loses all her faith in Don and after Don had spent too much time with his kids school teacher it all comes home to roost.

In the office, Don is having problems too. The entire cast is having climate control issues. Everything in the office is falling apart too. Add to this JFK and this episode pulls out a lot of stops getting old footage from the event and showing how it profoundly effects everyone.

What is interesting is how the script does not fall into the trap of everyone wondering where they were when he was shot. Instead, it has a lot of the cast so busy that they don't immediately realize what is going down. Betts, Don's wife seems totally obsessed with what is going on with JFK as the event becomes another crisis in faith with her to go with the loss of confidence in Don.