Tonight’s episode starts with us finding Pete Campbell curled up in his office. Pete’s secretary as brought him a hot cocoa, as currently the offices are at freezing temperatures. Similar to how things are currently going for Pete at the office?
Peggy and her roommate are coming from lunch. Peggy mildy complaining about having to spend extra money on food and drinks, when she could have done the same in her office with no extra spending. Peggy’s roommate apologizes for not being as entertaining as Duck. Peggy’s roommate also mentions how she does not like the after shave smell Duck leaves in the bathroom or on Peggy. Who knew Peggy and Duck would continue after their seemingly coincidental/random hook up?
Pete finds out that Ken has been given a promotion. Takes it well I might add. I was ready for Pete to blow up. Pete retreats to his office while passing Ken, who sees Pete has been given the news. Pete decides to go home, sick. Trudy finds Pete at home eating at the table. Pete tells Trudy “I’ve been fired.’ Trudy, being so optimistic, tries to find the bright side of the situation. We also see Pete mention to Trudy that he will call Duck. It should be just a matter of time now before we see this happen.
Back at the Draper residence, we hear the baby crying in the middle of the night. Betty gets up out of bed to attend the baby and surprisingly Don is already cradling the baby in the rocking chair. Trying to make up for things there Don? Just a tad bit late don’t you think? Betty tells Don to go back to bed.
We go back into the office, Peggy’s to be exact with Paul. Peggy’s secretary buzzes her and says she has a call. Who is it? None of than Duck. Duck tells Peggy he is a hotel around the way and that she should come over. Peggy is hesitant and says “it’s short notice.” Duck says “C’mon creative, be creative.” Peggy gets off the phone and tells Paul “I need to go to the print office.” Smiling, Paul replies “I know a nooner when I hear one.” Obviously not fooling anyone. How can you pass that up? I wouldn’t.
We are now in Duck’s hotel room. He turns on the television to finding breaking news being broadcasted by Walter Cronkite. The incident involving the President. Duck only gets a quick listen when there is a knock at the door. Duck unplugs the television and answers the door, none other than Peggy.
At this point, news is quickly spreading that JFK has been shot. Pete is talking to Harry in his office. Wondering how Harry made up his own position? Then we hear mass foot steps rushing into Harry’s office. They tune the television to the broadcasting of the horrific and shocking news as everyone piles in to watch. The office phones are all ringing and suddenly they all stop. Complete overload.
Back in Duck’s hotel room, they finish, Peggy asks Duck “Did you leave a hickey? I don’t like that. I get questions from my mother.” Duck tells Peggy something on the television was bothering him. Peggy says “It didn’t seem like it.” Duck plugs the television back in and they hear the news as well. Peggy is in shock. Duck says “I should call my kids.”
We see Betty Draper at home in front of the television, while Carla and the kids walk in to hear the breaking news that the President is now dead. Betty and Carla sobbing, while Carla lights up a cigarette.
It is really interesting to get a glimpse of how the country was collectively in shock and how everyone was glued to their televisions watching Walter Cronkite give the detailed accounts of the situation. Seems as though everything came to a complete halt. A nation in morning.
Don arrives at home and sees the children watching the news. Betty is a mess at this point and Don tells her to take a pill and to go to sleep. Don walks over to the kids, gets their attention, and tells then “Its going to be alright. We have a new President. There will be a funeral on Monday.” Bobby asks ” Are we going to the funeral?”
Ah, yes, there is still a wedding to attend. Don is ready to go and Betty is in front of the television, know where near ready to go out anywhere. Don tells Betty to get ready. Betty still in shock mentions that the wedding might have been canceled, yet Don tells her to get ready again. At the Campbell household, Pete tells Trudy she can go without him. Trudy decides that she does not want to go as well, while they make themselves more comfortable to keep watching the news.
Sterling Cooper’s daughter wedding is a mess. Very few guest show up. There are no waiters at the reception and there is no cake. Why not postpone the wedding? Cooper makes a short toast adding “If you can make it through a day like today, the rest of the marriage will be a cake walk.”
Still at the reception, Betty notices Henry walk in. Then a young woman gets up and kisses Henry on both cheeks. We see Betty is jealous. Henry and the young woman go and greet the newlyweds. Betty over hears the young woman mention Henry as her father, to which Betty is extremely relieved to hear. Everyone starts to dance. Don gets a hesitant Betty to oblige. Don notices Betty mind is elsewhere, presumably on the assassination, and says “Everything will be fine.” Betty replies “How do you know that?” Don goes in for a kiss and says “You’ll see.” All the while Henry is dancing with his daughter who notices Henry starring. The daughter then asks Henry “Why do you keep starring at that woman?” At the end of the reception we see Betty leaving the restroom. Don and Henry both turn and notice Betty exiting the restroom. From Betty’s angle you see the two men and you can almost read her mind. Betty wants to leave with Henry but leaves with Don.
We see Betty again at home in front of the television as the police is escorting Lee Harvey Oswald. Then we hear Betty scream. Don walks in wondering what happened? Betty loudly says “What is going on?” This can be said about her marriage as well. A bit later, Betty decides she needs to go clear her head and go out for a spin. Betty ends up meeting Henry in a parking lot. They are both glad to be seeing each other. Henry tells Betty ” You don’t have to give an answer right away, but I want to marry you.” Henry just tells Betty to search her heart and that he’ll make her happy.
Betty returns home to find Don on the couch as he as sent the kids away to the neighbors house. Betty tells Don she wants to yell and scream at him. Betty says to Don “I don’t love you anymore.” Don is just thinking she is distraught over the events happening on the TV. Betty goes on to say that the kiss Don gave her at the wedding, she felt nothing. Don runs away like always and leaves the room.
Monday morning as the Draper kids are eating breakfast, Don tells them goodbye, as the kids notice their parents not talking to each other. Don arrives at the office to find Peggy being the sole person there. Peggy asks Don if he would like to go watch funeral with her. Don says no and walks into his office and pours himself a drink.
Fittingly, the episode ends with the song “The End of the World” by Skeeter Davis, as Don’s world is crashing.
Only one episode left, the season finale, next week should a great show. It will leave us with many more questions to ponder. Can’t wait!
