Episode Report Card Couch Baron: B+ | 2 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Tit For Splat
By Couch Baron | Season 1 | Episode 7 | Aired on 08.29.2007
Don's in his office when Peggy buzzes and tells him that Roger is there to see him, and Don takes a moment to brace himself before telling her to send him in. Roger enters with a smile and a bottle (rye, Don's favorite, I think) in his hand, and good God, man, do you never stop? But the booze is to replace the one from Don's golf bag, and Roger exposits that he slept in his car before telling Don this: "When a man gets to the point when his name's on the building, he can get an unnatural sense of entitlement." Don asks what that means, and I admit it's vague, but I'm guessing he's not apologizing for bogarting all your wine. Roger tells Don about one time he was extremely drunk -- he drove home, went up to his floor, and tried to open the door, only to realize that it wasn't his building. "I guess what I'm saying is at some point, we've all parked in the wrong garage." I suppose that's why Don rents space all over town. Don neutrally thanks Roger for the bottle, but when that doesn't get rid of him, takes a more conciliatory tone in saying that Betty's going to want the glass back that Roger took. That satisfies Roger, and on his way out, he wink-winkingly says that maybe he should get a case of those. I'm assuming he's referring to the glasses, which would be an apology to Betty, and not the booze, which would be the catalyst to repeat the whole mess.
In line at the returns counter, Pete is surrounded by officious women; one of them says that her husband always preferred drinking at lunch, even when they were newlyweds, and adds, "He's in advertising." A little heavy-handed, show; we already know that Pete's co-workers are having a twelve-martini lunch. The conversation continues in this vein until Pete gets called to the window, and he grandly tells the woman working that he's returning an extra, as he got two. The woman, in a Noo Yawk accent, says that that's why they suggest people register, to avoid duplication. I'm sure he'll keep that in mind for next time, which probably won't be any too long in coming. Actually, he somewhat icily says that they did register, but got two anyway, and, in the same tone, says he doesn't have a receipt, as it was a gift. The woman calls over her ostensible superior, with whom Pete tries to banter a bit and gets absolutely nowhere. After some exposition that Pete's wife's maiden name is Vogel, some tall fratty (for the age) guy named "Matherton" calls to Pete; he's getting his tennis racket restrung. The return girl practically glows when she sees him, and again with the heavy-handed; we already know that Pete has feelings of social inadequacy, so it's not really necessary to have salespeople act like he gives off loser pheromones. Even if that is the case. We then have to endure another explanation of the chip and dip, like, TAKE THE DAMN THING BACK ALREADY, GIRL. Matherton then insinuates that he hooked up with Pete's (female) cousin at Pete's wedding, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that, but discussing it with a blood relative of the girl seems perhaps a bit gauche. On the plus side, the girl at the counter has finally stopped staring so adoringly at him that you'd think he was Fabian. No, there she goes again after Matherton hits on her before taking his leave, and then she's all business again as, due to the lack of a receipt, she'll only give Pete store credit. He offers to buy her a drink on his expense account, and despite her distaste for him, he might not be doomed to failure if he didn't already say that he JUST GOT MARRIED. The woman, probably to get rid of him, offers to put the credit in his name so he can spend it; he nauseatingly offers to spend the cash on her, but she refuses. "Store credit." Pete gives in, and then adds, "[Matherton] has the clap." Too bad for your cousin, then.