Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A- | 329 USERS: A YOU GRADE IT California, Here I Come…
By Couch Baron | Season 2 | Episode 10 | Aired on 2008.10.05
Later (Betty's wearing the same dress, so it's probably afternoon) she and Don arrive home. Don thinks their little floor-buffing session means they're reconciled, but Betty quickly disabuses him of that notion. He tries to suggest she needs him there because she's upset, but she deftly throws that in his face: "I am. And I know how you feel about grieving." Damn, she really did learn the art of conversation. He tries again, saying he thinks he should be there for her, but in a voice dripping with contempt, she practically laughs: "That's your reason." Flailing, he tries one last time to say he wants to be there, and she needs him there, but she asks, "Why? Nothing's changed. We were just pretending." The implication that their encounter was part of the act leaves him speechless, and unlike the other times when he tried at least not to seem like he was conceding, this time the defeat is naked on his face as he leaves. And no one's even mentioned the word "alimony" to him yet. When he's gone, Betty doesn't even look sad -- just curious as to what's going to happen. Now she knows how the rest of us feel!
Don walks into SC and starts his work day off by getting the receptionist's name wrong. Not that she cares, from the adoring way she checks out his ass as he goes. He's a bit bemused by the sparseness of the office population (it seems like he's coming in late the same day), however, so he looks around, and on someone's desk (Hildy's, I suppose?) comes across the LA travel magazine we saw Pete reading earlier. He then hears a muffled "Surprise!" coming from the conference room, so he heads off to investigate...
...and when he opens the door, he sees most of the office in there throwing a baby shower for Harry. Joan points out all the gifts they "got" him (they raided the storeroom, as Harry somewhat slurrily points out) -- Pampers, Martinson coffee, Clearasil for when he gets older -- and we see Harry's wearing a big baby bonnet. Hee. Ken also, in anticipation of Harry's diminished sex life, got him some Playboys. Don, with his family falling apart, looks understandably uncomfortable as Harry toasts everyone, and then Bertram pokes his head in: "I just wanted to say happy birthday!" HA! He leaves, and everyone's like, "...yeah." Although given that he doesn't really drink, I can see him wanting to beat a hasty retreat. Harry notes that there's a present that was purchased at Tiffany's from Jane, and Paul adds, "And Roger, I'm sure." Joan does not need to hear much more about that, so she hands the cake knife off to a secretary and goes over to Don, saying she wasn't expecting him until the next day, and asking how everything is. Don could pretty much address both points by telling her his father-in-law tried to have sex with his wife, but that's not the sort of thing you want to bring up at a party, so he asks if he can borrow Joan for a moment, and the two of them leave the room. Peggy then cuts a piece of cake and hands it to the person who's stepped into the space they just vacated -- Pete, who thanks her rather demurely. I'm not buying -- will someone please chaperone those two?