Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A- | 1034 USERS: B YOU GRADE IT A Turkey Lurkey Christmas To You, Jerky
By Couch Baron | Season 4 | Episode 2 | Aired on 2010.08.01
Don's typing away when Allison comes in, and I really liked her so I'm glad they brought her over to the new agency, but if she's there why is Don doing his own typing? Maybe he's like Grandpa Simpson in reverse, sending crackpot letters to companies he thinks are too prudish. After last week, it seems a lot less unlikely. Anyway, Allison tells him about his mail, which includes a letter addressed to both Santa Claus and Don Draper, and all I can say is it's too bad for Roger's sake that Lee Garner Jr. didn't see that and get an idea. Anyway, Allison reads the letter, and it's from Sally; she says that Bobby thinks it's going to the North Pole, and they should "keep up the ruse," which Allison adds is spelled "R-O-O-S." She smiles, and Don amusedly explains that Sally's watching too much TV, which makes me wonder what sixties programming she took that from. The only media offering I clearly remember using "ruse" was Clerks, but (a) that's obviously anachronistic, and (b) of all the vocabulary you'd remember from that film, I'd think that would be pretty far down the list for someone of Sally's age. After listing Bobby's requests, typical in both quantity and type for a boy of the period, Sally goes on that "Baby Gene wants a fireman -- I don't know what that means," before asking for a monogrammed gold necklace she and Don apparently saw at Macy's. "And most of all, I'd like you to be here on Christmas morning to give it to me, but I know you can't be." Well, that WASP stoicism is a work in process, but she's trying. Allison has to take a moment to recover from the way that letter's comedic value just fell apart at the end, but soon Don's pulling out his wallet and giving her the shopping list -- drum set, fire truck, and necklace with initials SBD -- "Sally Beth Draper." He then pauses, probably thinking about the fact that it's his first Christmas with competition in the Dad slot, and adds some Beatles 45s for Sally and a transistor radio for Bobby to the list. I'm guessing he thinks between his age and his namesake, Baby Gene's essentially a write-off in the affections department. Allison then asks about the Christmas party, saying the girls already got a "no" from Joan, but she's wondering if they're allowed to bring guests? Oh, Allison, playing Bad Mommy/Good Daddy with the newly divorced guy is beneath you, no? But it's irrelevant, as Don, not without irritation, says that Pryce has scaled the party back to "a glass of gin and a box of Velveeta" for financial reasons, but brightens as he adds that she will at least be getting a bonus. Allison thanks him with an answering smile, and isn't it nice how he's got such a healthy rapport with his secretary?