- Don and Betty try to keep up appearances as they go to Betty's parents after her dad has a stroke. Peter has a long-dreaded meeting with his mother before he and Kinsey leave for a convention in Los Angeles.
- The talk around the office is the business trip that Pete and Paul are going on to Los Angeles to a aeronautics convention in the hopes of gaining contracts from the emerging aerospace industry. For Paul, this trip is a good excuse not to accompany Sheila to Mississippi where she hoped he would assist her in a civil rights campaign. Family fronts are not going as well. Pete and Trudy are still arguing about their lack of progeny, Trudy wants to adopt. With the other generation, Pete is finding it difficult to relate to his mother, who still is not aware of her new poor financial situation. With the Drapers, Betty's father, Gene, has suffered a mild stroke which brings Don and Betty temporarily back together as Betty needs Don's support in visiting with her family. Although the Hofstadt family outwardly does not want to discuss the seriousness of the situation, it looks like Gene is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Back home, away from Gene and Gloria's, Betty still does not allow Don back into the family home. To preoccupy himself, Don decides to take Paul's place on the trip to Los Angeles, much to Paul's dismay who can now go with Sheila to Mississippi. Back at the Draper household, Betty, alone, finds that Glen Bishop has run away and has been hiding in her backyard. Besides having problems at home, Glen wants to be Betty's knight in shining armor. Although still not on speaking terms with Glen's mother Helen, Betty calls Helen to pick up Glen, and ends up confiding to Helen about her own personal situation with Don.—Huggo
- Betty Draper's father, Gene Hofstadt, has a stroke and she and Don visit. There's still a cold chill between her and Don, as there is in the Hofstadt household where tensions arise between Betty and her stepmother. Her father's confused state is particularly upsetting to her. Pete Campbell's brother tells him of the sorry state of their late father's finances. Campbell and Paul Kinsey are also headed to California to see what business they can drum up in the aerospace industry. This creates particular problems for Kinsey who was supposed to go on a voter registration drive with his girlfriend. The staff have a party for Harry Crane who is about to become a father. Bert Cooper makes an impromptu appearance. Still banned from the family home, Don decides to go to California himself. Glen Bishop runs away from home and Betty finds him in her garden shed.—garykmcd
- "Mad Men" - "The Inheritance" - October 5, 2008"
Previously On: Betty complained about her dad dating a new woman after her mother's death; Pete and his brother discovered their dad was "insolvent"; Betty had a strange encounter with a divorcee's 9-year-old son. The divorcee called her on it and Betty slapped her in the grocery store; Pete's sperm is good, his wife's eggs? Not so much; Don is living at the Roosevelt hotel; Roger left his wife for Don's secretary Jane, claiming he's in love. Roger's wife Mona? Not so happy about it.
In a meeting with Kinsey, Betty, Sal, and Don, Pete is reading off a list of aerodynamic, electric, and other high-tech companies who will be attending a conference that some of the SC gang will also be attending in Santa Monica.
Don points out to Kinsey and Pete that this is a business trip and they shouldn't be coming back with a tan. He says Crab Colson promised some astronauts will be up in the hizzy. This cranks Betty's chain and she asks Pete and Kinsey to get an autograph for her nephews.
Don reminds them that they're there to listen and to talk: Pete is to talk, Kinsey is to listen. Don points out that the congressmen in attendance are the potential customers. The congressmen want aerospace in their districts so they need to sell them on the idea that SC can help make that happen. Kinsey and Pete are blank-faced and Don realizes they didn't read any of the research that Peggy prepared. He gets up in disgust saying maybe he should send her.
Back home in bed Trudy is telling Pete that she'll stay out of his way. He says it she comes it will make him look less serious to his colleagues. She muses she can go stay with her parents. This makes him feel bad. Apparently, they've been asking to spend time with them, since nothing's happening in the kid department. He immediately gets angry. She notes "reputable agencies" and wonders what's wrong with using one of them. He says it's someone else's child. She says once he sees a baby he will fall in love. Pete says it's not natural. Trudy says she felt that way too but has since changed her mind and that they would have their pick. She points out that they're not related by blood and he loves her.
The phone rings in Don's hotel room. It's Betty, her father had a stroke. Three days ago. The new woman Gloria didn't tell her herself and had Betty's brother call. Gloria says he's up and around and talking but wouldn't put him on the phone. Don says to take the kids to Francine's, he's coming to get her and it's not up for discussion. She doesn't want to wake them. He says he'll be by in the morning and that everything is going to be okay. She sarcastically says sure, everything's perfect.
The next morning Don and Betty show up for a visit. Gloria swears the doctors' say it's not serious. They sit to wait for Betty's dad. William arrives and says dad doesn't seem that bad. His wife is coming later. We hear Betty dad's brushing off Gloria. Dad looks fine and hugs Betty, calling her an angel, saying that's what he needed, a hug from her. Gene asks after the kids. William talks up Don's new Coupe de Ville to Gene. Betty asks how he is but Gene says it's a tempest in a teapot. Betty says she wished Gloria had called earlier since the men at Don's firm know all kinds of doctor. Her brother snits "right in New York, where everything is better."
Gene starts calling Betty "Ruthie" his dead wife's name. It's awkward and Gloria makes it worse by saying that it's his daughter not his wife- "Ruth is dead." William goes to get some ice for drinks.
Betty asks what the doctor said. Gene says it was like last time. Betty is freaked it happened before and Gloria didn't tell her. Gene pshaws it, saying it runs in the family. Gloria asks Don how they came. On the turnpike?
Back at SC Sheila, Kinsey's black girlfriend, has come to meet him for lunch. He kisses her. As does Cosgrove on the cheek. Pete lets it slip about Kinsey's trip, which he apparently hadn't told Sheila about. Sheila's confused and as she asks Joan walks by. Kinsey grabs her arm and Sheila looks back at Joan. Kinsey lies it just came up and they can register voters in Mississippi later. He figures he can face angry, gun-toting Southerners post-L.A. She asks if he's scared. He says not to pretend she's not scared. She asks what's so important. He says it's a convention he can't talk about. They go to the elevator and the operator - Hollis- greets him as Mr. Kinsey. Kinsey protests saying to call him Paul and introducing Sheila. She turns and asks if he ever really planned on going down South with her. He says she can always get another grocery store job, he can't just walk into an ad agency and get a job. She is pissed. (This conversation is taking place in a full elevator). She says all he does is complain about SC and that's she's going without him. He asks why she can't wait.
In Pete's office he's looking over their dad's sad state of affairs with his brother Bud. Pete wonders if they can get all the money their dad gave to Lincoln Center back. Bud says that's not cool. They joke about killing their mother. Bud says all they have to do is go get their mother's signature and move on. Pete says he hates going over there. They toast "the end of the line." Pete asks Bud if he and his wife want to have kids. Bud has a five year plan but secretly wants to be "the childless couple" that everyone pities. Pete mentions the possibility of adoption. Bud says, "people do that." Pete replies, "they do."
Back at Gene's he's doing a puzzle with Don and William's wife Judy. Gene wonders if Don takes Bobby to Yankee games. He lies and says he does all the time. Judy says they missed Don and Betty at Cape May but with Betty absent other people had a chance to win at cards. Something she's always been good at observes Gene. In another room Betty looks at a portrait of her mother. William sneaks in a window admitting that he was hiding in a tree house to escape the "tomb" atmophere with his dad. Betty wonders if this is the last picture of their mother and where a favorite ottoman has gone. Exasperatedly, William says he doesn't know, but that he understand why she wouldn't want to live with another woman's ghost. Betty calls her a silly woman. She asks how long he's really been like this. William reports about a month. He points out that Gloria is doing them a favor and that he's glad he's not getting stuck with him just because he cared enough not to move away. Betty points out that they have to live near Manhattan and she wishes she could be closer. William points out Don is rich enough to build a house anywhere he wants. Betty angrily tells him to stop counting other people's money. She sees another thing missing. A ceramic piece that William apparently has at his house. She wonders if she has to go around writing her name on the things she wants. Williams tells her she's drunk. Gloria bustles in announcing food is almost ready and wondering why the window is open.
Back at puzzle central they're making it happen. Or at least Judy is. Gene points out that Don isn't much help and to boot he's all mysterious, saying he knows more about the kid who fixes his car then Don. Judy tells Gene to stop hurting Don's feelings. Gene starts to harangue him saying "nobody has what you have, you act like it's nothing, my daughter's a princess you know that?" Betty wonders what's going on. Gene starts pointing at Don and yelling "he has no people! You can't trust a person like that." Betty tries to shush him. Don says nothing. Everyone looks down. They decamp to eat. Betty says she has no appetite. He says she should eat. She snipes "stop it Don. Nobody's watching."
At the Campbell house Bud is getting mom to sign papers. Pete arrives. Mom thinks it's nice of him to grace them with his presence. She points out that he shouldn't get too used to the perks of their presence since she's heard that he and Trudy are considering a child that "is not your own." She says she would hate to have to exclude him from what is rightfully his, and that he has to keep at it. She points out that his father felt that adoption was for some but "really, you're pulling from the discards." He takes this opportunity to throw caution to the wind and dig into her and point out that dad was broke. She doesn't care for his tone and Bud offers to messenger the paper's over to Pete for his signature later. Pete gets up and Mother Campbell is confused asking Bud what her "fiduciary state" is. Pete goads him into telling her. Bud says they had to liquidate her holdings to ensure her future comfort. She's confused. Pete, satisfied, leaves.
(Look it's Freddy Rumsen in a drug PSA! We knew he'd land on his pee-stained feet.)
Don and Betty go up to a guest room. They undress in tired, tense silence. She hands him blankets. He sets up shop on the floor. She gets in bed. Later that night... Betty sneaks down onto Don waking him wordlessly and gets busy. Don wakes up on the floor, alone. Betty is gone from the room.
She's downstairs smoking at the table. Gene comments on the smoking. Gloria points out that smoking causes wrinkles. William and Judy arrive and Judy is carrying the ceramic "jardinaire" (sp?) She is so upset that they took it not knowing that it was promised to Betty. Betty says it's fine and wishes William, who is looking on hopefully, hadn't brought it up. Betty goes to pick up the dishes and Gene touches her waist complimenting how beautiful she looks. The demented old coot than observes that now that he's been fed "why don't we go upstairs..." and slides his hand over her breast as he does so causing Gloria to shout "Gene" and Betty to drop the dishes. Betty immediately says "I'm okay" and Gloria apologizes for his altered behavior. Betty goes to the kitchen. Gene seems confused. William says Gene needs to go back to the doctor. Betty comes back in as if nothing's wrong and proposes finishing the puzzle. To top it off Gene wants to drive into town and get a milkshake. Gloria thinks this is a grand idea. Don rubs Betty's back.
Back upstairs Bety makes the bed and Don sits. Viola, apparently the longterm maid, greets Betty with a kiss. Betty says she should've called her. Don excuses himself. Betty says she should be here everyday and that Gene needs her and that she let Gloria and Judy ransack the house. Viola isn't having this lip. (Viola looks like she could be Laverne from "Scrubs" but it's hard to tell. I just checked, it is. Her name's Aloma Wright). Betty sits and pouts saying Gene doesn't know who she is. Viola points out that he's very sick. Betty appreciates that. Viola sits. Betty asks if Gene is dying. Viola says it's just going to get worse. Betty isn't sure how much more she can take. Betty cries "I'm an orphan." Viola hugs her and tells her to take care of her husband and children now and to remember him as he was.
Don and Betty get home. He goes to take a shower, she tells him that she thinks he should leave. He says she's upset. She says she is, but knows how he feels about grieving. He says he should be there for her. She narrows her eyes and says "that's your reason?" He says he wants to be here and that she needs him. She asks why, that nothing has changed and that they were just pretending. (I'm not sure if she means the midnight sex or the marriage, or both?) He looks hurt and goes.
Don enters SC in the afternoon, it's quiet, his secretary is gone from her post. He's confused. He looks at brochures on her desk. (They're hard to read but I think they say Cancun? They have a tropical pic on the front). He hears a "surprise" from the conference room and walks in on a surprise baby shower for Harry Crain. He talks about how touched he is and toasts everyone. Bert Cooper comes in and says "happy birthday!" (Hee). Harry opens a Tiffany's box from Jane. (And Roger, figures Kinsey.)
Joan approaches Don and asks how everything is. "About how those things are," says Don, with an appropriately furrowed brow. He asks to borrow her for a moment. They leave. Peggy hands Pete some cake.
Walking into his office Joan is giving him the rundown on his schedule and he says to clear his week. Roger enters and asks how the emergency was. "Memorable," says Don. He tells Roger he's decided to go to Cali for the rocket fair. Roger thinks that's a good idea but what about Campbell and Kinsey. Campbell has to go since Roger has prepped him. So, Kinsey is to be bumped. Roger says Joan can hold down the fort. Don says she's been doing just that. Don tells Joan to send Kinsey a memo. A bit of relish crosses her face as she says she'll take care of it.
In the conference room everyone's talking Cali. Harry assumes he'll have to go soon because the networks are saying he needs to show his face. Everyone's getting drunk. The secretary that Harry made it with last season drunkenly congratulates him. Joan comes in and tells Kinsey, in front of everyone, that he's out and Don is in. Kinsey freaks. Joan asks for his tickets and badges, right away. Kinsey wonders why they all can't go. Joan doesn't answer just asks for the goods. Kinsey leaves.
He goes to his office and calls Sheila and tells her that he's going with her to make a stand in Mississippi.
On her way out Pete calls Peggy over. He mentions that he's going away on a plane. Peggy wonders what he wants her to say, that she wishes she was going? Everybody does. She's never even been on a plane. He has, but not since his father died. She apologizes. He says he's not scared. She says statistics are on his side. He says it wouldn't be the worst thing since he hates his mother. And asks what she thinks of that. She says she doesn't know the circumstances. He starts to babble. She says she doesn't know what he's talking about but that his flight will be fine and that he should go home. He says "everything is so easy for you." She says it's not easy for anyone.
In the Draper kitchen Betty drinks her wine and broods. A loud noise startles her and the dog. Another dog barks in the distance. She gets up and locks the door.
We hear a dog barking and Betty walks outside to see her dog scratching at the little house that Don built for Sally in the backyard last season. Glen, now 11-year-old (I presume) son of the divorcee, is hiding in there. Betty wonders what he's doing. He says nothing. He says he's been hiding in there a few days. She asks what happened. He says he didn't know if he was going to see her again, and she wasn't home. So he ran away from home. It turns out his dad wants custody, and Glen thinks his mother doesn't care. He says she just wants to be with her boyfriends. They give him things. He says he hasn't seen her in so long, except driving down the street. he goes to use the loo and she washes his clothes. She also looks at the comic books in his bag. He comes back wearing one of Don's t-shirts. He eats the meal she prepared. He asks why she's alone. Because it's the middle of the day she says. He doesn't care for that. She asks if he understands why his mother was mad at her. He says "yeah, because she doesn't understand." Betty smiles and says "that's true." Glen says he's not going home. He says his mom is never home and his dad and his new wife have another baby but the new wife is mean. He asks Betty if she's going to eat. She does. Later they drink sodas and watch cartoons. Glen tells her that he doesn't like meat. She apologizes and offers to make macaroni and cheese. He likes this. He keeps looking at her and breathing heavily. Then he grabs her hand. He says he came to rescue her. She asks if he brought his cape. He says he's not joking, that they can go anywhere and that he has money.
Just then Carla comes home with Sally and Bobby, who missed her. Betty introduces Carla to Glen and reintroduces the kids. She tells them all to go play.
Carla asks what he's doing here. Betty doesn't answer and opens her rolodex. Glen and Sally watch TV. The front door opens and it's Glen's mom, who was worried sick. Betty says he has to go home. As they go to the door he tells Betty "I hate you." Glen's mom tells him to apologize. He repeats it. She says "I know, I'm sorry." Sally comes in long-faced.
On a bus on the way to Mississippi with a bunch of black folks Kinsey is pontificating about how advertising helps bring about change since "consumer has no color."
The divorcee returns to the Draper house saying she and Betty need to talk. Betty says there's nothing to talk about. Mrs. Bishop says this has to stop. Betty says nothing's going on, except that Glen feels alone and that she doesn't blame him. Mrs. Bishop wonders what he said. Betty says nothing but it's obvious. Glen depends on his mom for everything and she's "supposed to be taking care of him" and he gets nothing. Mrs. Bishop thought that with her ex out of their lives it would be different but Glen's right, she's not a very good mother anymore. Betty blurts out that Don isn't living in the house anymore. Mrs. Bishop apologizes. She says they haven't told the children. Mrs. Bishop wonders if it's over. Betty doesn't know. Mrs. Bishop says that's the worst and wonders if he sees the kids. Betty says he takes the kids to dinner and they wonder what suddenly made them special. Mrs. Bishop says it wasn't that different without a husband. Betty says sometimes she feels like she'll float away if Don isn't holding her down. Mrs. Bishop says the hardest part is realizing that you are in charge.
On the plane Don lights up. Pete has an eyemask on as he tries to sleep.
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