Episode Report Card Couch Baron: B+ | 1 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Goodbye, Norma Jean
By Couch Baron | Season 2 | Episode 9 | Aired on 09.28.2008
Betty's defrosting the freezer and lining the shelves, and generally keeping herself busy with chores she would probably pawn off on Don were he still living there. I just figured out one of the preconditions for Don coming home, which as I understand things would no doubt please John McCain.
Don blows by Jane, who notes that the meeting was quick; he doesn't acknowledge that as he asks what's on his schedule for the day. Jane runs it down, and Don speculates that Roger moved one meeting to five o'clock so it would "bleed into the cocktail hour." Seems to me that around these parts, the meeting would have to somehow go backwards in time to achieve that. Jane hesitates, and then asks for leave to sit down. When it's granted, she tells Don that she thinks she made a terrible mistake -- it seems Sally called the day before and asked when Don would be home from his "business trip," since Betty wasn't sure. Don winces and gets up and shuts the door as Jane goes on that he doesn't have to confide in her, but she didn't know what to say, and she blurted out "Wednesday" as an answer, even though she now realizes she should have said she didn't know. Don sighs that, "Mrs. Draper is working on some things," which is both funny and sad in light of the scene with Betty we just saw, and adds, with a touch of vulnerability, that he thought said work would be over by now. Since Hollis went to so much trouble to bring it up, what Don is really saying is that he thought he could go back to hiding in plain sight, and he can't believe that Betty is still actually seeing him. Jane offers sympathy, which of course Don doesn't want, so he tells her this is obviously personal, and by the way, he'd also like it if she'd can the concerned looks. Jane tells him that she hopes he's noticed she's a discreet person, which, in light of the revelation at the end of the episode makes me wonder: Does she think Don knows about her and Roger? Maybe her discretion is so accomplished that it stepped on her point here. Don sharply says that he doesn't know her at all, and it's personal and not up for discussion. In other words: Don't make me call you "Lois." Jane takes his words with smiling equanimity, leading Don to tell her that he's staying at the Roosevelt if there's an emergency.
Betty's still in her housecoat as she sips from a glass of red wine. She puts on the radio, but quickly shuts it off after hearing a brief piece about Marilyn and her studio troubles. She doesn't look particularly moved, which makes sense from the standpoint that she's been conditioned to be such a Jackie. You'd think she'd feel a tiny bit of blonde solidarity, though. She sits on the couch with a book (Ship of Fools, heh)...