Episode Report Card Couch Baron: B+ | 10 USERS: A YOU GRADE IT Where Have You Gone, Dick Whitman?
By Couch Baron | Season 1 | Episode 6 | Aired on 2007.08.23
An establishing shot of the lobby at Sterling Cooper gives way to Don entering a meeting room, in which Roger introduces an executive from "Olympic Cruise Lines," a guy from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, and a woman whose affiliation isn't mentioned, although she seems to be with the Israeli guy, especially given her thick accent. In keeping with the spread on the table, Roger plugs "caviar, blinis (I'm assuming it's "blinis" the pancake, given the caviar, and not "bellinis" the drink; as usual, closed-captioning lets you down when you really need it), mai tais -- we're thinking of a land of exotic luxury." I'm listening. The cruise guy (Nick is his name) says that they want to make Haifa the Middle East's Rome to Beirut's Paris. Don wonders what physical landmark Haifa has to sell that image, and Roger pipes up that apparently, Haifa is about to get a Hilton. Nick adds that Olympic is going to have its finest luxury liner visiting several ports on the Israeli Riviera, and the woman (Lily) tells Don and Roger that while they're going to visit a competitor of SC's up the street, "some of us find his humor to be kitsch." Hee, but what really sells it is the "Not this argument again" side-eye her partner gives her. The Israeli team suggests a more glamorous approach, and Lily produces a copy of Exodus, saying it's been on the bestseller list for two years in the States, and is soon to be a major motion picture starring Paul Newman. I'd imagine Don and Roger know this already, but humoring the client seems like the better part of valor here. Lily goes on, "America has a love affair with Israel, and we would like to bring the two parties together." Sure, plenty of people may have been stuck in loveless marriages, but it's nice to know that in some ways it was a happier time. After a joke about the Bible, Don asks what their target tourist's salary is, and Lily dryly responds, "Whatever you make." Roger, just as dryly, says clients always say that, and we end the scene on a shot of Nick stuffing his fat face. Hey Nick, the ocean called -- they're running out of caviar.
In the main area, Roger comes out to reception to find his wife Mona and teenaged daughter, "Margaret." Mona informs him that they're going to get Margaret's hair cut, and Roger tells Margaret that he likes her ponytail, as it makes her look young. Margaret: "I like your hair, Daddy, it makes you look old." Not that I don't respect the bitchery, kid, but there's a reason the term "Silver Fox" enjoys popularity. Mona isn't sure where to take Margaret (…I'm sure Mona gets her hair done, but maybe she wants a place younger people go for Margaret?) and just then Don and Joan stride up, prompting Mona to say they make a handsome couple. Joan: "I don't go for handsome." If that's a dig at Roger, ouch! On the plus side, though, it looks like Joan and Margaret will hit it off. Mona asks Joan for help, and Joan mischievously shepherds Margaret away to make a hair appointment with Mona following with barely a word for Roger. Roger muses, "She used to love being in my office."