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
And it is in fact time to say good night, as Paul, Ken, and a couple randoms are heading out, with Paul announcing, "Last one to Chumley's gets to wheel Kenneth Cosgrove, published author, home in a baby carriage." Having seen Ken, I wouldn't call that the hardship assignment Paul is making it out to be. Joan, with a valise on the desk in front of her, watches them go with mild contempt, and then Roger comes out and sidles up behind her. She sees him, though, in the mirror she's using to touch up her makeup, and he dishes about Mona and Margaret going away, adding that Mona's mother fell down the steps. Joan: "You're really blessed!" Joan just went up a notch in my book -- I always appreciate a character who does some of my work for me. Roger invites her to come to his place, but Joan is clearly not into the idea, and then a blonde woman joins them, whom Joan introduces as her roommate Carol. From Carol's goofy reaction, either she knows about Joan and Roger, or she wants to bed him herself. Not that the two are mutually exclusive. Roger asks "Miss Holloway" for a private word about an "accounting question," but once they're out of earshot, he tells her that another time, the two of them can go away, maybe to Puerto Rico? Joan: "I don't care if it's Cuba. I need a little notice." I sympathize, girl, but you still might want to see the place while you have the chance. Roger good-naturedly tells the girls to have fun. I don't know; this is why I said in the last recap I don't see this relationship as tragic -- to me, that means that both participants want more but can't get it, and while Roger sort of tepidly (and I don't really believe him) expresses that desire, Joan is quite clear that this is as far as she wants things to go. They can be tragic figures individually, but that's a separate issue, to me. Anyway.
Don, glass of something in hand, is admonishing (not all that nicely, it should be said) Peggy not to stay late just to milk dinner money out of them. Roger then comes up and asks Don what he's doing that night, and after some maybe unnecessary business with Peggy mistakenly answering the question, Don tries to beg off, saying Betty's cooking, but Roger prevails on him to have "one drink." Pete then comes up: "Did I miss something?" Any cue that you're wanted in this conversation, not that I'd guess that's ever stopped you before. Roger smoothly says he and Don talk all the time when Pete's not around. "In fact, we're gonna do it right now." Hee. He then wishes "Paul" a good night, and as they walk away, he confesses to a chuckling Don, "I love doing that." Roger, you just caught up with Joan in points scored this episode. Pete, choosing to take that as good-natured ribbing when in fact it was complete contempt, turns to Peggy and asks why she's there so late, and she tells him about the copy she's writing for the lipstick account. Hildy, a female worker who I believe we've seen before, then approaches and tells Pete that his wife called from the Four Seasons, and they've been seated. Before he goes, though, Pete offers to take a look at Peggy's work. "I do it for a lot of the fellas." Peggy's like, "Really?" Listen to your instincts, girl. However, when Pete assures her that he's telling the truth, she gladly accepts his offer. For someone who's supposed to be smarter than your average woman, this sure is a boneheaded move. I mean, giving people the benefit of the doubt is one thing, but trusting a guy who raided your boss's wastebasket for ideas is pushing naïve to another level.