Episode Report Card Couch Baron: B+ | 246 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT It's 1962. What Else Is New?
By Couch Baron | Season 2 | Episode 1 | Aired on 2008.07.27
The tow truck has arrived. The somewhat gruff, blue-collar serviceman tells Betty he has an extra fan belt, and he could put it in for nine bucks. Betty goes to her wallet, but finding only three singles, gets a determined look on her face that I can only describe as a more prostitute-oriented version of "WWJD?" Betty says she only has three bucks and change, and declines the guy's offer to put it on account, as it's a new car and she doesn't want Don to find out. "He doesn't like the way I drive." The guy tells her that's not what caused the problem, but Betty's mentally committed here, and somewhat kittenishly tells the guy that it would just mean the world to her if he'd help her out. The guy cottons on quickly, and asks, "Are we bargaining here?" Appropriately enough, this feels like watching a car wreck. It's tough to watch and tough to look away. However, the scene doesn't end with illicit roadside sexual favors, but simply with the guy replacing the fan belt and bidding her goodnight. I guess if you need a burly gay mechanic in 1962 Westchester, now you know where to go.
Chez Draper. Sally rushes in and greets Polly warmly, causing Don to say grumpily, "I'm here too." True, but Polly doesn't smell like booze and cigarettes. I hope. Betty lies about why she was delayed, and then Sally shows Don and Betty some moves she learned in class...
...and later, Don is reading Meditations In An Emergency. His voice-over quotes, "Now I am quietly waiting for the catastrophe of my personality to seem beautiful again, and interesting, and modern." He writes on the paper, "Made me think of you," and puts it in an envelope, but we don't see the addressee. The VO continues, "The country is grey and brown and white, and trees, snows, and skies of laughter always diminishing, less funny, not just darker, not just grey." Don walks Polly to the mailbox and drops the package in. "It may be the coldest day of the year. What does he think of that? I mean, what do I? And if I do, perhaps I am myself, again." Can it be anyone but Rachel? Hopefully we'll find out soon.