Commissions and Fees (3 Jun. 2012)

Lane's entire world comes crashing down after getting busted for forging Don's signature on a check, and Sally experiences an awkward rite of passage while spending the weekend with the Drapers.

Director:

Chris Manley

Writers:

Matthew Weiner (creator), André Jacquemetton,

Stars:

Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jon Hamm	...	Don Draper
Elisabeth Moss	...	Peggy Olson (credit only)
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Pete Campbell
January Jones	...	Betty Francis
Christina Hendricks	...	Joan Harris
Jared Harris	...	Lane Pryce
Aaron Staton	...	Ken Cosgrove
Rich Sommer	...	Harry Crane
Kiernan Shipka	...	Sally Draper
Jessica Paré	...	Megan Draper
Christopher Stanley	...	Henry Francis
Jay R. Ferguson	...	Stan Rizzo (credit only)
Robert Morse	...	Bertram Cooper
John Slattery	...	Roger Sterling
Embeth Davidtz	...	Rebecca Pryce

Storyline

Don learns about Lane's forged check. Don's subsequent discussion with Lane and Don's unilateral decision about what to do about Lane's fraud without telling any of the other partners about the fraud itself lead not only to Lane making his own decision about his future but also Don beginning to think more about SCDP's future as a whole. Don's thoughts about going after bigger accounts leads to even more maneuvering in-house, this time affecting Ken and Pete most directly. Meanwhile, the Francises are planning on going on a weekend ski trip, on which Sally doesn't want to go. An exasperated Betty decides that if Sally is going to be a bother, she will send Sally to stay with Don and Megan regardless of what Don and Megan want. Sally's visit with Don and Megan adds to more strain between Don and Megan as they go about their own lives over the course of Sally's stay - Don's having to do with the work issue around Lane and its aftermath - which Sally tries to use to her advantage in ...

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Plot Keywords:

resignation | fired from the job | menstrual blood | menstruation | museum | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 June 2012 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Center Studios - 450 S. Bixel Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lionsgate Television, Weiner Bros.

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

References The Night of the Generals (1967)

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Soundtracks

"Butchie's Tune"
(uncredited)
Music & lyrics by Steve Boone
Performed by The Lovin' Spoonful

User Reviews

Great Episode, but Not Plausible

I love Mad Men for so many reasons. Without listing all of them, one of them is that the show is painstakingly invested in the details. From the wardrobes, to the sets, to the dialogue, to the details of the business. However, I find some of the details surrounding Lane's "firing" implausible.

Primarily being that Lane was a Senior Partner of SDCP, meaning he had a vested ownership interest in the entity. This was not a junior interest, but a large share of the company. Therefore, Don does not have the authority to tell Lane to resign. Lane would have known this, since he is the CFO for the company. Removing a partner would have taken the approval of all partners, and furthermore it would have required a payout to Lane for his interest in the firm. Lane invested 50K into the business. Someone with Lane's business experience and acumen would have realized that even accusations or criminal charges of embezzlement would have resulted in him receiving some sort of payout. Even if he went to jail, he would still be entitled to his share of the company.

In the real world, Don would have said, "You are going to have to resign if you do not want the other partners to hear about this". Lane would have then had the option to resign and be bought out in a lump sum by the other partners, retain his interest in SDCP, or receive his shares in a series of payments.

My point is, I loved the episode, but the business details of the plot line do not add up to a plausible scenario of events. Lane is smarter than this season has presented him as. Lane would have actually been in a position where his finances were about to improve (should he have resigned). This brings up the point that Lane should have requested his interest by bought out when he realized he needed the cash flow initially before defrauding SDCP, but that is another episode.