Mad Men Episode 1.07 Red in the Face

Don calls Dr. Wayne, Betty's psychiatrist, to find out how she's doing and what she's been talking about. "She seems consumed by petty jealousies and overwhelmed with every day activities," he says. "We're basically dealing with the emotions of a child here." It seems such behavior is common among housewives who constantly try to measure up to their husband's success.

In a nearby office, Roger is enjoying his morning milk-and-vodka when Cooper walks in. Nixon's people will be coming by the office at the end of the week to see if the agency is right for the presidential candidate. "The ones with the best products make the worst clients," Roger says.

As the day winds down, Roger notices Joan dabbing on some makeup. He invites her to his house -- his wife and daughter are out of town for the weekend. Just then, Joan's roommate Carol arrives. They already have plans.

Roger, eager to fill his evening, approaches Don. "One drink, you owe me that," he says. Just then, Pete approaches, but Roger brushes him off, calling him Paul in the process. Trying to recover, Pete chats up Peggy. When she tells him she's writing copy for the Belle Jolie lipstick account, he offers to take a look at it once she's finished.

At the Oak Room Bar, Roger and Don talk shop until Roger mentions how Mona stopped cooking ever since Margaret stopped eating. Don invites him to the Draper house for dinner. Betty, unprepared, serves them steaks and has a salad for herself. "You sure you won't have some?" Roger asks.

"No, thank you, Roger," Betty replies. "I'm a vegetarian sometimes."

The three chat about their childhoods. "From the way you drop your G's every once in a while, I always thought you were raised on a farm," Roger says. Don looks at them and quickly changes the subject. A few drinks and three half-full ashtrays later, Roger tells stories about his glory days in the war. When Don goes to the garage in search of more liquor, Roger helps Betty carry the plates to the sink. Standing very close to her, he slides his hands around her waist. She pushes his hand away, but he nuzzles her. "You've been making eyes at me all night," he says. "You can't tell me I'm not giving you hot pants." When Don returns, he notices something wrong, but Roger quickly takes a drink for the road and says his goodbyes.

Don returns to the kitchen and demands an explanation for what just happened. She retaliates, claiming she was just being friendly to his drunken boss. "You made a fool of yourself," he says. "You were throwing yourself at him, giggling at all his stories. Sometimes I feel like I'm living with a little girl."

The next day, Roger comes into Don's office with a bottle of rye and an apology. "When a man gets to a point in his life when his name's on the building, he can get an unnatural sense of entitlement," he says. Don plays it cool.

Meanwhile, Pete forgoes lunch with the boys to stand in line at a department store's customer service so he can return a Chip 'n' Dip wedding gift. He and Trudy had already gotten the tomato-and-leaves tray. When Pete sees that a young clerk named Rosemary will be helping him, he lights up. Because he has no receipt, she will only give him store credit. He cakes on the charm, but she doesn't budge. Just then, Kicks Matherton appears with a squash racquet. He and Pete catch up, and Rosemary takes to Kicks' flirting far better. Pete notices this. "You should know he summers in Palm Beach," he says. "He has the clap."

Back at Pete's office, Paul, Ken and Harry arrive to see Pete holding a 22-caliber rifle overhead - his exchange purchase for the Chip 'n' Dip. He aims it into the bullpen, checking out the secretaries until a pink fuzzy sweater blocks the view. It's his secretary. They have a meeting.

"Nixon's brain trust is coming in tomorrow," Roger says to the group. "The nomination is a lock. We just need an opponent." There's some discussion about Lyndon Johnson and Kennedy. Roger winks at Don and encourages him to weigh in. Once he does, Roger smiles curiously.

The next morning, at the building's entrance hall, Don notices Pete arrive, rifle in hand. He gives Pete a quizzical look before stepping on to the elevator. He asks Hollis, the elevator operator a question and hands him a few bills.

Pete, sitting on the couch in his office, stares at the rifle -- the purchase outrages Trudy because he exchanged a gift from her aunt for a "stupid toy." Peggy enters with a folder. She asks if Pete would still take her up on his offer to critique her work. He tosses the paper aside and pats the couch for her to sit. "You ever been hunting?" he asks.

At the grocery store, Betty is sizing up heads of lettuce. Helen wheels by and, despite making eye contact, doesn't say a word. When Betty asks what's the matter, Helen says that she found some of Betty's hair in her son Glen's treasure box. Betty tries to explain, but Helen won't have it. "What's wrong with you?" she says. Impulsively, Betty slaps Helen in the face.

Don and Roger slurp down raw oysters and liquor at the oyster bar as they talk about the GOP, sending dogs into space and the second divorce of Desi and Lucy.

On their way back to the office, the two -- drunk and full -- realize that they never went over the Nixon plan. Worse yet, Hollis informs them that the building's elevators are out of service. They brave the 23 flights of stairs -- Don, hardly sweaty and Roger, armpits soaked and face red pauses at each lannding, struggling to go on. Don arrives at the top to find three Nixon men waiting for them with Pete and Cooper. Betram introduces him to the Nixon men when Roger arrives. He opens his mouth to speak but then vomits onto the carpeting. A Nixon man observes that he must have had a bad oyster.

As Roger regroups and everyone files into the meeting, Don has a hint of a smile on his face.