This episode featured several things Mad Men viewers usually don’t see: Don Draper not getting something he wants, Joan losing her composure and a man’s foot being run over by a riding lawnmower at the Sterling Cooper office. That last one came courtesy of hapless secretary Lois, who lost control of a John Deere — which Ken had triumphantly brought in after winning an account — and left the office looking like, as Sterling said, “Iwo Jima.”
The victim was visiting Brit Guy MacKendrick, who ended up losing his foot and his future position as chief operating officer of Sterling Cooper. Before the accident, he unveiled the agency’s new organizational chart, which gave only Harry a promotion and left Sterling off completely, as Cooper pointed out with the glee of a grade-schooler correcting his teacher.
MacKendrick was set to replace Lane Pryce, whom the Putnam, Powell and Lowe bosses planned to ship off to Bombay. Luckily for Pryce, who was quite unhappy with the idea, he’ll be staying in New York as a result of MacKendrick’s accident. At the hospital, Pryce told Don, “I feel like I just went to my own funeral. I didn’t like the eulogy,” which would seem to indicate that he’ll be easier to work with in the future.
‘Bon Voyage, Joan’
Unfortunately for Joan, her future is not as clear as Pryce’s. As she prepared for her triumphant exit from Sterling Cooper, her husband drunkenly stumbled home to tell her that he did not receive the promotion to chief resident and that she would have to continue working to support them.
After that bombshell was dropped her, Joan was forced to return to the office for a surprise party that had been spoiled by Hooker and would be further marred by the new boss losing his foot. Although Joan broke down during MacKendrick’s toast, she sprung into action after his accident, and her quick thinking saved his life. Although she told Greg that her exit from Sterling Cooper was a done deal, she’s certainly earned continued employment.
Disappointed Don
As for Don’s employment, Cooper and Sterling tantalized him with the prospect of moving to London, and Don did the same to his wife. He was so excited about the idea that he even agreed to reconcile with Roger during a trip to the barbershop arranged by Cooper, who was eager to bring his “Martin and Lewis” back together.
However, the British were coming not to admire and promote Don, as Sterling and Cooper suggested, but to simply leave him in his current position. Don’s disappointment was palpable, but a call from Conrad Hilton served to brighten his day. Turns out that Don’s buddy Connie from the country club is the hotel magnate, and Don may be on the verge of landing a massive account.
Scared Sally
At the Draper home, Sally was terrified of baby Gene, whom she believed to be the ghostly reincarnation of her dead grandpa. She requested a nightlight, flung the Barbie that Gene (via an uncharacteristically sweet Betty and some “fairies”) gave her out the window and screamed bloody murder when Don returned the demon doll to her room.
Don comforted his daughter and ordered his wife to change the baby’s name, but Betty, who earlier displayed her mothering skills by telling Bobby to “go bang (his) head against the wall,” was unsympathetic to her child’s fears and Don’s bad blood with her father. Betty was steadfast in her commitment to the baby’s name, so Don had no choice but to convince Sally that the child was her brother and not a ghost.
