Episode Report Card Joe R: A | 701 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT The Winner of the Ham Battle is You
By Joe R | Season 4 | Episode 1 | Aired on 2010.07.25
In SCDP's table-less conference room, the partners (plus Harry, it being his meeting and all) discuss the pros and (mostly) cons of Don's Ad Age profile. Harry tries to bright-side that he wouldn't mind being described this way, but Lane's all over him: "You're a salesman. You don't want to be known as 'mysterious.'" Bert wants no further discussion, but Pete bursts in, followed by Joan. Ho-Ho's taking his jai-alai and going (ho-)home. Harry is particularly put out, as you might expect, having just sold jai-alai to ABC and all. Pete informs the group that Ho-Ho was angry that Don didn't mention them in the article. "I didn't mention anyone," Don says, leaping to his own defense. "That's the reporter's job." At which point everyone kind of groans and looks away. Even Harry's got his head on his hand. Let me repeat: Harry Crane can't believe how dumb what Don just said was. Look, I love Don Draper as much as anyone, but I have to admit, it's kind of awesome to see him hoisted by his own petard like this. "Spectacular," Bert spits. "What the hell is Ho-Ho doing reading Ad Age," asks Roger, once again getting the best line. Pete says Ho-Ho caught wind about how they all laugh at him behind his back (Harry: "I don't!"). "He hung up on me," Pete says. "I think he was crying." Don, holding on with both hands, tries to brush this one off too, saying there wasn't much juice left in Ho-Ho anyway. Lane says that may be so, but without jai-alai, it leaves Lucky Strike as 71% of their business. "It's an untenably insecure position." Leave it to the Brit to make imminent financial collapse sound classy. Don's out of ideas/excuses, so (prepare for world to flip upside down) Pete jumps in with a plan, telling Harry to schedule Ho-Ho for a meeting, pretending he's heard none of this. The idea being that word of the ABC deal will be enough to rope him back in. Harry: "I wish we really had a second floor so I could jump off it."
After Harry stomps off, Don kicks a chair in frustration. Bert informs him they're going to schedule him for a second interview, this time with the Wall Street Journal. Don is at a loss as to what he'll do differently. "I told him the truth," he says, halfway to pleading. "Who gives a crap what I say anyway? My work speaks for me." You guys, I think Don's real even on Oprah. Bert puts him in his place, as only he can do: "Turning creative success into business is your work. And you've failed." Last time, I promise, but really sit back and appreciate just how many characters have been re-energized by the move to the new firm. Bert's never been this animated about anything, and that includes Ayn Rand. Roger's got the skip in his step again. Pete's the ultimate team player. Peggy's more assured than ever. Joan's got her own office. They may be struggling to stay afloat, but I'd say being the "scrappy upstart" agrees with them. Well, not Don, obviously. And Lane honestly looks like he's got all the ulcers. But otherwise! Anyway, the partners leave Don to marinate in his failure. At least he's got Joan, who tells him sweetly, "It'll pass."
Oh shit, y'all, it's time for Thanksgiving at the Francis house. Henry has Betty, Sally, and Bobby with him, and they sit uncomfortably as Henry's family files into the dining room. Henry's adult daughter greets her grandmother -- Pauline -- warmly but is much cooler towards his dad and ignores the Drapers altogether. Call it a dick move if you must, but you wouldn't talk to any of them and you know it. They do manage to hand presents over to Sally and Bobby. Once everyone's seated, Henry's daughter apologizes for being late, as the traffic was murder. "That's what's become of this country," Pauline grouses. "Everyone has two Thanksgivings to go to." The pointedness of the statement is not lost on Henry, who volleys back that maybe under this circumstance, there's more to be thankful for. Betty grabs his hand in support even though she's not doing a great job of projecting someone worth giving thanks for.