- While Lou becomes the object of ridicule for the copy writers, Don tries to get away to California after a call from his pregnant niece. Meanwhile, the new office computer drives Ginsberg to the brink of insanity.
- Either by design or by accident, Stan finds out about what Lou does in his spare time, this activity which Lou *seemingly* wants kept secret. Stan decides he cannot resist spreading the news amongst the creative staff. This action places Stan in an awkward position, but places Don in a bind with regard to getting away to Los Angeles for the weekend. That last minute weekend trip is to visit with Anna's niece, Stephanie, who telephones out of the blue with the news that she is well-advanced in a pregnancy, and implies that she has no money and the father is no longer in her life. As such, Don offers to meet her at the Laurel Canyon house, with Megan taking care of her until he arrives. Don's Los Angeles trip ends up not being anything like he envisioned. On the personal side, a drug induced incident takes place, which by the sober light of day makes all feel a little embarrassed. But on the professional side, Don, by chance, gets hold of some information about goings-on at Sterling Cooper. He hopes to use this information to get back into the good, before his internal enemies get their way. Meanwhile, Ginsberg is being negatively affected by the white noise emanating from the new computer. Peggy is the unlucky recipient of his paranoia. And during a social gathering during what is regular chit-chat, Betty makes some comments on a topic that differ from Henry's political stance on the matter. This incident places a strain between the two, which is not helped by Sally's temporary return. Bobby, however, seems to be the most frightened by what he sees as the eventual outcome of what is happening in the Francis house.—Huggo
- Lou is upset when the staff learn about his other pursuit - drawing a cartoon character named Scout. They all think it's funny until Lou blows up and keeps them at the office late on a Friday night. It's also the day that Stephanie, Anna's niece, calls Don from California seeking his help. He sends her to Megan's house but because of the Lou situation can't get to Los Angeles until Saturday. He arrives to find that Megan has already given her money and she's left. That might, Megan throws a party and Harry Crane shows up. Harry has some important information about a possible new account - one which may force Don out as a partner. Back in New York, Michael Ginsberg is increasingly agitated by the presence of the IBM computer and forces Peggy to act after a very strange encounter. Elsewhere, Betty Francis is now arguing frequently with her husband Henry and continues to demonstrate her extremely limited parenting skills.—garykmcd
- We open with Stan about to use the copy machine, but discovering something Lou left behind. Stan turns the paper over and sees a cartoon monkey, dressed in Army gear, holding a bayonet. It's titled, "Scout's Honor," with the caption, "This is Scout. He can take anything but an order." At the bottom, it reads, "Created by Lou Avery". Lou has left a folder of Scout strips next to the machine. Stan takes a look, chuckles, then puts the folder under his arm and walks off.
The elevator opens, Don is in it, waiting to go up, and Peggy enters and says, "Good morning." She asks if Don will be going to California over the weekend, and he tells her, "Next weekend." Peggy tells him that she talked to Lou about Don's HandiWrap request and Lou is very happy to have Don on board, and Peggy is too, and clarifies that she meant on her team. Don thanks her. They exit and walk into the office, where they find Ginsberg stressing out over the new computer, and yelling at it to stop humming. Peggy thinks he is shouting at the secretary sitting in front of it, and asks Ginsberg if he wants an introduction. Ginsberg says no, he isn't interested in her, because "she belongs to it and it belongs to her!" Peggy doesn't understand, and Ginsberg tells her that the computer is a threat to the creative staff and will pick them off one by one. He storms off.
Stan shows Shirley the folder containing Lou's comic strips and asks her if she knows anything about it. Shirley takes the folder and asks him where he got it. Stan tells her that he found it on the Xerox machine and thought, "Wow, Shirley's gonna be in a lot of trouble for leaving it there!" Matthis and another creative are snickering and comment that the strips must be pretty recent, since one of the strip comments on Eisenhower's funeral. Shirley says she didn't leave it there but she appreciates it return. In trying to keep her boss from being embarrassed, she stresses that Lou would prefer that the comics weren't seen by anyone at the office, and tells them that it never happened. Stan and the other copywriters make the Boy Scout hand gesture and say, "Scout's Honor!" and burst out laughing as an unhappy Shirley leaves.
Don is in his office, dictating corrections to Meredith, when a collect call comes in from Stephanie in California. She is seven months pregnant and has no money. Stephanie is now a hippie, living in L.A, having dropped out of college. Don gives her Megan's address and tells her to go out and see his wife, she will take care of Stephanie, and he will fly out to California after work. Don calls Megan, who is at home getting a manicure from her friend Amy, who is visiting from Philly. Don tells Megan he's coming out that night and she seems happy about that. He then tells her that she will be getting a visit from Stephanie, and explains his connection to Stephanie and her current circumstances. Megan is sympathetic, and says she will cancel the party she was going to hold for her acting class. He tells her not to do that, but says Amy should leave so this can be kept in the family. Megan agrees and says she's glad to be seeing him that weekend, in spite of the reason.
Meanwhile, Matthis and another staffer are discussing Burger Chef and joking about how their failed mascot should be replaced by a "saucy little r****d named Scout." John says, "He can't work at a hamburger stand, he can take anything but an order!" Matthis, Stan and the other writer laugh. Don walks in, needing Stan to knock out some artwork for HandiWrap. Stan says he's busy, and shows Don a cartoon he drew of Lou being held at bayonet point by Scout the Monkey. The guys laugh and Don is confused. He is shown Lou's comic strip folder and told that Lou thinks he's a real cartoonist. Don asks where the folder came from and John tells him Lou left it on the copy machine, so obviously he wanted them to see it. Don walks off with the folder and says he has a plane to catch, and they should get to work. It's observed that "Don's still part of the faculty." Stan blows it off, takes another drag of his joint and goes back to work on the cartoon.
Betty is getting ready for an important dinner party (one of four that night) at which Henry will be meeting potential political backers and donors. She and tells Henry that the housekeeper can handle the kids' homework, but she'll handle the silver.
Stephanie arrives at Megan's house, and Megan gives her a warm welcome. They make small talk and Stephanie asks what Megan does. Megan is surprised that Don didn't tell her she's an actress, but recovers and tells Stephanie to make herself home.
Stan and Matthis are at the urinals and Stan makes a Scout's Honor joke. Lou exits one of the bathroom stalls, washes his hands and leaves without saying anything. Stan and Matthis walk in late to the creatives meeting. Peggy, Don, Shirley, and the other creative guy are there. The meeting is led by Lou, who snarks, "Nice of you to join us." He then asks Don to present, and Don starts to, and asks Stan if he wants to bring his stuff over to him so they can present together. Lou snottily asks Stan if he can be smug from over there and Stan starts to get defensive. Lou tells Stan and Matthis that he heard everything, "from your first fart to your last dying breath!" Don and Matthis are laughing and Lou asks them if they think that's funny. Peggy asks what's going on, and Lou asks her if she's ever heard of Underdog. She says yes. He tells her that Underdog makes a fortune for its creator, someone he worked with at his previous agency. Lou says Scout's Honor is a hundred times better. Matthis, trying to score points, says, "I can tell you right now, it's a winner!" Lou is getting mad, and starts to make a point about Bob Dylan by asking, "Do you know who had a ridiculous dream and people laughed at him?" Stan says, "You?" and Don, Matthis and the other guy start giggling. Stan backtracks and tells Lou he didn't mean to make fun of his dream. Lou compares himself to Bob Dylan, calling him a genius, then calls everyone in the room a bunch of "flag-burning snots" who need to learn about patriotism and loyalty. He then says everyone is going to stay late and he wants finished work, and if they don't like it, they can blame Stan and Matthis. On the way back to his office, Don tells Meredith to get him on a 9 pm flight to California.
At Betty's dinner party, Henry and Betty are speaking with two other guests. The woman tells them about a slew of streetlamp vandalism by local kids, and the man says that Vietnam isn't the only place where things are falling apart, they are going bad back in the States as well. Betty comments that if kids learned how to respect authority, make sacrifices and support their country, the U.S. would have the morale necessary to win the war. The man points out that even Nixon wants the U.S. out of the war. Henry agrees, saying he supports the president and that the war is too costly, contradicting Betty in front of their guests, and Betty seethes. The female guest is visibly uncomfortable and tries to change the subject. Betty stalks off to the kitchen.
Back at SC&P, Don, wearing his overcoat and holding his hat and briefcase , brings his finished work to Lou. Lou calls it a rookie move for Don to be cutting out while the rest of his team is still working. Don asks why doesn't he just let everyone go home. Lou asks Don what he would do if he was still in charge and Don says he would let Lou leave. Lou says he will read Don's work and give it back to him to work on some more, and tells Don, "I'm gonna tuck you in tonight," meaning, Don will leave when Lou is ready to let Don leave. Don walks to the office door and tells Lou that the office is full of people who have problems with authority, don't give them ammunition. Lou refuses to take management advice from Don Draper. Don calls Megan and tells her he's stuck in the office, but he'll be there in the morning.
Megan serves Stephanie a steak, which Stephanie had been craving, but when it's put in front of her she admits she hasn't eaten meat in a year and it's probably not a good idea. They talk about the father of Stephanie's baby, who is a musician who was imprisoned for selling marijuana, but who will be released in a month. That's when the baby will be born. Stephanie dropped out of school to follow him down to L.A. They started out okay, but quickly ended up panhandling on the streets. He doesn't know Stephanie is pregnant. Megan says they won't tell Don. Stephanie says she doesn't care, she knows all of Don's secrets. Megan tells her she doesn't know Don very well, and that he would hate Stephanie's lack of a plan and wouldn't trust her to take care of herself. Megan writes Stephanie a check for $1000.00, no strings attached. Stephanie says she is going to take off and Megan says there is no rush for her to leave. Stephanie goes to get dressed, but sadly tells Megan that nothing ever happened between her and Don. Megan says she knows that, she's his niece.
Betty is stewing in bed. Henry walks into the bedroom and slams the door. She tells him to be quiet, the kids are asleep. Henry is angry that he had to attend four other parties by himself because of Betty's snit. He demands to know why Betty was talking about the war. She points out that she didn't bring it up and she didn't know where he stood on it. He says he shouldn't have to explain himself because she shouldn't be discussing it. He says when they are making appearances at events like the dinner parties, he is attending as an elected representative. She snarks that he ran unopposed. Henry responds "We'll see how long that lasts" and tells Betty to stick to discussing things like how much she hates getting toast crumbs in the butter and to leave the thinking to him. Betty apologizes and Henry says she embarrassed herself much more than him. He walks out. Bobby has been eavesdropping in the hall and overhears everything.
Don is typing up the work that Lou wanted when Lou walks past his office, on his way home, and tells Don he can see the work on Monday. Lou's power play is achieved, Don's plans are ruined.
Betty is at home when she gets a phone call about Sally. It's not good news. Betty asks, "Is she okay?"
Over on the West Coast, Don arrives at Megan's home. Amy is doing the dishes. Don doesn't understand why Amy is there when he asked Megan not to have her at the house while Stephanie was there. Megan comes out, apologizes and tells Don that Stephanie left. Don asks in disbelief, "You told her that I wanted to see her?" Megan tells him that she really tried to get her to stay, but money came up and she gave Stephanie a thousand dollars. Megan says Stephanie must have been embarrassed and he could call her. Don is really disappointed and says Megan should have called him or at least let him speak to Stephanie. She says that Stephanie is an adult, then asks if he wants to go to the market with her and Amy, maybe some company would cheer him up. Don gives her a blank look, and Megan says she and Amy will go. Amy asks if Don wants anything from the market, and Megan says she knows what he likes. They leave. Don looks really sad.
Ginsberg is at the office on Saturday, alone (he thinks), trying to get some work done. The continuous humming of the computer is incredibly distracting to him. He tries stuffing his ears with tissue to block it out. Soon, he gets up and starts walking towards the computer room, but Jim Cutler is in there talking to Lou. Ginsberg crouches behind a desk, but he can't hear what they are talking about. He backs off down the hallway.
Henry brings Sally home. She has two black eyes and a bandage across her nose, which is discolored and swollen. Betty wants to know what really happened and Henry says Sally and her friends were sword fighting with golf clubs. Sally admits that she and her friends were idiots and Betty agrees, and lays into her about ruining her looks and she can't be trusted on her own. Sally retorts that it's her face to worry about and where would Betty be without her perfect nose? Not married to an up and comer like Henry, she'd be nothing, Sally says. Betty tells her it *was* a perfect nose that she gave Sally, until she ruined it, and that Sally is lucky that Henry's connections can get her an emergency nose job that weekend from a good doctor. Sally says it's a nose job, not an abortion. Betty threatens to break Sally's arm next, and sends her to her room for the night. Sally is glad.
Ginsberg shows up at Peggy's apartment door. Peggy is annoyed and wants to know what he's doing there, it's Saturday, take the day off. Ginsberg tells her that something's going on, he saw Cutler and Lou having a secret meeting in front of the computer. He knows what's going on, "they must be homos". Peggy laughs, but Ginsberg is serious, and claims that the machine makes men "do unnatural things". There is another knock on Peggy's door. It's Julio, the son of Peggy's upstairs tenant. He's there to hang out with Peggy and watch her TV. Ginsberg wants to do his work at Peggy's place since he can't work at home and he's now too paranoid to work at the office. She says fine. Julio says the typewriter will be too loud.
Megan is hosting a party for her acting class, it's in full swing. Don, resplendent in a loud, plaid sports jacket, drinks on the balcony. Amy approaches him with a joint and Don declines, saying he's fine. Amy doesn't think he is, and he says he isn't in the mood. Megan's musician friends start to play, and Megan begins to dance with one of her male classmates. Don looks on, clearly displeased. Megan swaps one of her female friends into the dance and goes over to Don. Harry randomly shows up with a date, Miranda, and tells Don and Megan that she invited him to a party, but he didn't know it would be at Megan's house. Harry is trying to get Miranda an agent. Don invites Harry out for drinks and doesn't invite Miranda along. Harry is flustered and Megan tells Miranda she'll get her a ride home. Don and Harry leave..
Sally is in bed with the lights out. Bobby sneaks into her room, and she tells him, "She'd better not catch you in here." Bobby protests that he'd never get to see her otherwise, and Sally tells him, "That's the way Betty likes it." Bobby asks Sally if Betty and Henry are going to get divorced. Sally says, "No, they're the dynamic duo, that's never going to happen." Bobby tells her about the fight he witnessed the other night and how Henry took a pillow down to the den. Sally says she's going to hitchhike back to school that night. Bobby asks if he can go with her. He tells Sally that he has a stomachache all the time. Sally lets Bobby can crawl into bed with her, and asks him if he's going to wet the bed, which he says he no longer does. Sally says she's sorry they'll never let Bobby out, since he's too little.
Peggy has fallen asleep on her couch, and wakes up to discover that Ginsberg is sitting right next to her and has been watching her sleep. He says Julio left an hour ago. She tells him it's time to go. Ginsberg describes how she first looked dead, and then there was a flurry of activity behind her eyelids. He says there is a pressure in his head, like a hydrogen bomb about to go off, and he blames the hum from the office computer. He says the other day he was looking at Stan's shoulders and he got excited. Peggy says, "Really!" Ginsberg then insists that it's the computer's plan to turn everyone homosexual, and tells Peggy they have to reproduce. He forces a kiss on Peggy who pushes him off and stands up. She tells him again to leave and also suggests that he go see a doctor. He asks, "Why, because I want you?" and points out that the radio at the office no longer works, implying that that too is the computer's fault. Peggy shouts that it's just a computer. Ginsberg snaps out of it, is ashamed, and says he is going to leave, telling Peggy she doesn't have to report this information.
Don and Harry are at a bar, which is much quieter than Megan's party. Harry says it's much better, and that he's happy to see Don. Harry says that agencies change, but guys like them have to watch out for each other. Don assures Harry he won't tell his wife about Miranda. Harry isn't talking about that. He says he is going to make sure Don stays important, though he's not sure how. He thinks Don should be out in L.A., with his wife, and that Ted is useless. Then Harry tells Don that Cutler and Lou are trying to get the Commander cigarettes account. It's a Phillip Morris product line, and if SC&P lands the account, they will have to fire Don due to his anti-tobacco industry open letter that is still having resounding consequences for him years later. Don looks worried and asks Harry how long this has been going on. Harry says so far it's just in the phone call stage, but that he turned in a media plan the day before. Don expresses his appreciation for the heads up and orders another round of drinks.
Megan and Amy are stoned and laughing as they clean up after the party. Don walks in, looking tired. Megan asks him how his night on the town went, Don says it was educational. Amy says drugs would make Don feel better, and she and Megan giggle again as they pass a joint. Don declines and heads off to bed. He takes off his shirt and sits down on the bed. Amy walks in, smiling, and says she's supposed to tuck him in. Don asks her what Megan has to say about it. Megan comes in with a dopey smile and says she doesn't want Don to be in a bad mood, and crawls across the bed to him. Don points out that she's stoned and to knock it off. Megan asks Don, "Don't you like Amy?"and Amy laughs and says to leave him alone. She sits down on the other side of Don. Megan is encouraging him to have a threesome with her and Amy, which Don initially turns down, but it happens. The next morning, Don is in the kitchen looking for the coffee when Megan comes in and is very affectionate with him. The phone rings, it's Stephanie, who has gone back to Oakland. Don takes the phone. He lets Stephanie know that he is worried about her and was disappointed she wasn't there when he got to the house. He tells her to call him when the baby comes, he wants to take care of anything she needs. Stephanie is grateful and says that Megan is really solid, and the call ends. Don tells Megan that he has to go back to New York, that Harry told him something he shouldn't have, and it's a good thing he did. But he'll come back the following weekend. He goes to take a shower and Megan is frustrated and disappointed.
Chez Francis: Henry comes home after taking Sally to the doctor. Betty is sitting at the kitchen table reading a newspaper. She asks about the exam and Henry says Sally's nose isn't broken and she won't need an operation. He wants Betty to come into the living room to talk and Betty stays put, saying she's comfortable where she is. Henry complains about all the driving he just did and that he doesn't want to sit in the kitchen "like the help," which Betty takes offense to. Henry asks what's gotten into her and Betty is angry about the other night when Henry insulted her intelligence. She tells him she isn't stupid, she speaks Italian. Henry attempts to apologize for embarrassing her, and Betty clarifies that he's sorry that he forgot to inform her what to think. Guess what, Henry? She thinks all by herself. Henry retorts, if she's so smart, why doesn't she run for office? Betty snaps that she doesn't know what she's going to do, but that it's a good idea.
On the first day back at SC&P after the episode at Peggy's apartment, Ginsburg stops by her office, holding a box. Peggy asks him how he is, and Ginsberg says he's himself again. However, he reiterates that he does have feelings for Peggy. Peggy says she's flattered, and that it happens when you work with people, but it isn't real. Ginsberg says that the waves of data from the computer were filling him up and he needed to find a release. He says he removed the pressure and now is inured to the computer fallout. He hands the box to Peggy. He says the pressure had an outlet and tells her to open the box. Peggy assumes Ginsberg is talking about a certain solo activity and says he doesn't need to thank her, and opens the box. She shrieks and jumps back. Inside the box is Ginsberg 's severed nipple, which he says was the pressure valve. He shows her the bandage on his chest. Since a doctor wouldn't remove it, he did it himself. Peggy is extremely perplexed, although Ginsberg sees nothing wrong with what he's done. He was grateful, so he wanted to show Peggy his solution. Peggy tells him to have a seat and she steps out, closing her office door behind her. She picks up a phone from her secretary's desk and places a call.
Don is standing in the back of the Algonquin Hotel's very upscale restaurant, sharply dressed and groomed. He steels himself, opens a door and steps through it. Lou and Cutler are meeting with the Phillip Morris execs, and they look stunned to see Don. He introduces himself and sits down. Lou states the obvious, they they weren't expecting to see him. The Phillip Morris executives know exactly who Don Draper is, and they tell him they are only discussing a presentation, though they are very clear about not wanting to work with someone who "cut our throat in the New York Times". Don says if they are willing to give his agency a chance at their business, then he is prepared to leave it, which Cutler thanks him for. Don wants Phillip Morris to understand that the letter was written by someone who was trying to save his own business, not damage theirs. He points out that he has more than ten years of tobacco advertising experience, and that when the government was starting to come down on the tobacco industry, Don managed to stave off the damage from 1960 to 1965. He adds that he is also the only industry figure who met with the government and knows their strategy towards big tobacco, and how to beat it. Finally, Don adds a twist of a suggestion -- "What do you think your friends at American Tobacco would think if you made me apologize, and forced me into your service? They are still your competition, aren't they?" With that, Don leaves.
Peggy has called a psychiatric hospital. Ginsberg is wheeled out of the SC&P offices, strapped down to a stretcher, accompanied by sanitarium attendants, a police officer- and Stan. Ginsberg turns and yells, "Get out while you can!" as Peggy cries. She turns toward the computer, glares at it, and walks off.
Don hails a cab outside the Algonquin Hotel. Lou and Cutler walk outside. Lou turns to Don and says, "You're incredible." Don thanks him and opens the cab door. Lou gets in, followed by Cutler, who says to Don, "You think this is going to save, you, don't you?" Don slams the car door shut and the cab takes off. Don hails his own cab.
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