AMC's Mad Men Season 3, Episode 8
Betty and Don Travel to Rome in 'Souvenir'
Two characters in this episode of Mad Men expected something in return for helping a lady: Henry Francis finally acted on his attraction to Betty after saving the reservoir, and Pete all but forced himself on his neighbor’s German au pair after helping her replace a damaged dress. And neither of their ill-advised actions gave them positive results.
Just when it looked as though Betty and her cohorts in the Junior League would lose their battle to save the reservoir, Francis swooped to the city council meeting in at the last minute to save the day. After the meeting, he made it clear that it was Betty, not the reservoir, that triggered his actions, but she left him behind in the parking lot — right after he kissed her.
Roman Holiday
After her illicit lip lock, Betty seemed set on being done with Francis, and when Connie sent Don on a two-day whirlwind trip to Rome, she made a last-minute decision to join him. Betty came to life overseas, speaking perfect Italian, reveling in attention from other men and rekindling her romance with her husband.
Don attempted to keep the flame burning when they returned, but Betty's happiness fizzled out when she was faced with the tedium of her suburban existence. Even a lovely charm that Don had shipped from Italy left her pouting: "Then you can have something to look at when I tell the story about the time we went to Rome."
Sally Gets Violent
The jet-setting Drapers left their kids at home with poor Carla. When Sally planted a kiss on Francine’s son Ernie, Bobby wasted no time in taunting her, and she wasted no time in beating him up. When Carla informed their mother of the incident, Betty seemed less concerned with discipline than with giving Sally a heartfelt speech about kissing boys while the fainting couch she bought with Francis sat conspicuously in the corner.
When Trudy’s Away, Pete Will Stray
After advising his officemates not to feel sorry for him because Trudy had left him alone for the weekend, Pete retreated to his apartment to get drunk and guffaw at cartoons. Since he didn’t have much else to do, it’s no wonder he jumped at the chance to come gallantly to the rescue of his neighbor’s German nanny, Gudrun, after she ruined one of her employer’s dresses.
At first, it seemed as though he genuinely wanted to help her, and he initially left her alone after she told him she had a boyfriend. After hitting the bottle, however, he drunkenly returned to Gudrun’s doorstep and took advantage of her. After receiving a stern rebuke from his neighbor and breaking down with guilt in front of Trudy, Pete told his wife not to leave him alone anymore, and she wisely agreed.
Joan’s New Job
During his quest to replace Gudrun’s dress, Pete stumbled upon Joan working as a manager at an upscale department store. As she fixed the problem with her usual flair, Joan promised to be discreet about the incident. Unbeknownst to Pete, that discretion was probably more important to Joan, who hid her broken spirit from Pete by claiming that Greg was working on a new specialty and that she took the job for a first crack at new clothes.
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