Far Away Places – Mad Men Episode Summary 5.6

Synopsis: Don Draper pulls his wife, Megan, from the Heinz presentation that they can spend a long weekend at a Howard Johnson’s motor lodge.  Heinz once again rejects their proposed campaign causing Peggy Olson to use Don’s strategy of forcing their client to submission.  Meanwhile, Roger Sterling spends an evening with his wife’s pretentious friends and finds himself taking LSD with them.

Episode Summary: Peggy Olson frantically searches for a pack of violet candy that she claims Don Draper gave her before a presentation.  Having become superstitious about it, she believes in needing it for her Heinz presentation.  Abe Drexler could not care less about her presentation.  He asks her to go to see the Naked Prey that evening, but she rejects his invitation for she would not be able to focus on the movie with her mind preoccupied with the Heinz presentation.  Abe feels superfluous and accuses Peggy of always finding an excuse for her inattentive behavior towards him.  He claims that Peggy has even made their lovemaking seem like a chore.  He ends their argument by leaving her with a gibe.Continue reading...

Peggy arrives at the office and finds Michael Ginsberg on the phone having a similar argument as hers.  Stan Rizzo shares of the date he had with a voluptuous and hilarious woman whom he ended up ignoring, since his mind is consumed with the fear that his drawings can never compete with photographs.  Megan Draper then shares of life imitating art having encountered an incident that mimicked their campaign.  Everyone on their team has work on their minds unwittingly neglecting their personal lives.  Peggy, however, becomes relieved when she finds the pack of Choward’s Violet Mints that Don gave her.  To her consternation, Don arrives with news of him and Megan missing the presentation for a trip upstate to Howard Johnson’s motor lodge.  Megan is embarrassed at abandoning her colleagues for a critical presentation that all of them have been working on for months.  Peggy’s ominous day culminates with her presentation that their client, Raymond Geiger, found sentimental, but rejected nonetheless.  He believes that the campaign spoke to people like him and not the adolescents Heinz is trying to target.  He criticizes Peggy for fulfilling what he asked for instead of figuring out what he wants.  Peggy follows Don’s strategy when faced with an equivocal client.  She dares to affront the Heinz client with an allegation that Raymond is pugnacious, which explains why he continues to reject their proposed campaigns despite following his direction.  Peggy asserts that no one else is going to figure out how to make Heinz beans young and beautiful.  Her strategy, however, did not work on Raymond for he admonishes Peggy for her behavior towards him.  Moreover, the client orders Pete Campbell to remove her from the team working on the Heinz account.  Peggy once again follows in the footsteps of Don Draper as he drowns her sorrow with alcohol and leaves work for the movies.

Peggy finds herself watching the Naked Prey alone, but not for long for the man smoking marijuana, that she warned about being caught decided to sit beside her after she agreed to take a hit of the joint.  Soon the man makes a move on Peggy, but she instead offers him a sexual favor.  She returns to the office and finds an embarrassed Michael arguing with his father who dropped by the agency unannounced.  Peggy ends her journey through Don’s coping mechanism with a nap on his office couch.  Dawn Chambers wakes her at eight-thirty in the evening with a phone call from a worried Don, who asked a vague question about Peggy receiving any calls.  She informs him that she did not receive any calls and begins to accept full responsibility for the failed presentation when Don hangs up.  She then returns to her office and finds Michael still there.  She brings up the incident earlier leading Michael to inform her that the man he saw is not his father.  He then continues to speak of himself as a Martian without a hint of humor in his assertion.  She soon learns what he truly meant by it when Michael imparts his supposed birth at a concentration camp where his mother died and his journey to a Swedish orphanage where Morris Ginsberg adopted him at age five.  Peggy returns home later that night and calls his boyfriend, Abe.  She relays the story she had just heard from Michael and asks that he come to her apartment.

At the beginning of that ominous day, Roger Sterling speaks to Don about the two of them going on a debauched and boondoggle fact-finding mission to Howard Johnson’s motor lodge only to give his friend an idea to bring his new wife instead.  With his failed plan to spend a weekend of debauchery, Roger is left with no other choice but to spend an evening with his wife, Jane Sterling.  He is to accompany her to a dinner party with her pretentious friends who happen to be psychiatrists.  Dinner conversation revolved around the debate about tracing logic to the truth as a cure for neurosis.  Roger is ready to leave the dinner party when Jane asked that he stay with her, nervous about taking LSD with her friends alone.  In fact, one of the couples has already excused themselves from participating.  Catherine, the psychiatrist to celebrities, attests at having taking the drug four times and claims to have had a more beautiful experience than the last.  After filling out a piece of paper with their names and addresses, the guests and Catherine take LSD, while the host remains sober so as to be their guide.  Later, Roger finds that the drug had no effect on him until he opens a bottle of alcohol and an orchestra begins to play music.  He then smokes a cigarette that shortens after one draw.  He later finds from the guide that looking in the mirror is unwise and the guide instructs him to go be with Jane.  Roger watches himself as he sits and dances with her at the same time.  He finds her wife in tears brought about by the joy of having experienced something so perfect.  They return home and bathe together.  Roger then begins laughing as he finds himself at the 1919 World Series, while also in the bathtub.  Later, husband and wife lie on the bedroom floor pondering about time and their marriage.  Jane reveals that Catherine is her psychiatrist who believes that the Sterlings’ marriage is over, but neither husband nor wife would like to accept its failure.  Roger learns that Jane never cheated on him and that she knew all along that he is not in love with her.  The next morning when the L.S.D. had worn out, Roger is relieved that they had ended their marriage amicably.  Jane, however, has no recollection of their agreement to dissolve their marriage.  Roger refreshes her memory and even though she confirms having said the words, Jane remains hesitant at accepting their parting.  Without the drug, Jane could not contain her disappointment at finally ending her marriage with Roger.

Conversely, Don is excited about the impromptu long weekend at Howard Johnson’s motor lodge with his wife.  He remembers the time they spent in California where he first fell in love with her.  Megan could not help but feel guilty about leaving her colleagues to deal with Heinz.  Don makes it known that skipping the presentation is one advantage for being the wife of the boss.  He did promise to check in with Peggy later.  They arrive at Howard Johnson’s restaurant where Dale Vanderwort welcomes them with a promise of a royal treatment starting with a sampling of everything they have to offer.  For dessert, Don rejects Megan’s request for pie and orders them three scoops of orange sherbet.  Don finds Howard Johnson’s motor lodge a delightful destination for the whole family, but Megan notes that it is not a destination but rather a pit stop to some place.  He agrees to the concept, but twists it so that it becomes the destination after the kids force their parents to stay there instead.  Still aggrieved for having been pulled out of work without notice, Megan finds it unfair that Don can choose to work no matter the circumstances are, while she is at his disposal.  Don argues that she should have said something, but Megan contends that she was not given the chance.  The waitress arrives with the orange sherbet.  Don reveals to the waitress that Megan has not tried one and the waitress waits in anticipation of Megan’s reaction.  Megan tastes a spoonful and immediately discards the orange sherbet with claims of it tasting like perfume.  She asks for chocolate instead.  Don finds her behavior spiteful believing it as a way for her to embarrass him.  With this allegation, she then embarrasses him even more with exaggerated moans of delight as she devours spoonfuls of the orange sherbet.  Don is aghast as Megan continues with an outburst of being confused of when to act as his wife or as his employee.  He tells her to call her mother that she can complain to her in French about him.  Megan is taken aback by his accusation that she tells him to call his mother.  Her statement appalled Don so much so that he walks out of Howard Johnson’s.  In fact, he does more than that, he gets in his car, drives away, and abandons Megan.  After miles of driving, Don returns to the Howard Johnson’s restaurant only to learn that Megan had left with some strangers.  He becomes alarmed when he finds her sunglasses in the parking lot.  Night has fallen and there is still no sign of Megan.  He calls Peggy and learns that his wife has not contacted her and so he reluctantly calls Megan’s mother, Marie, with an excuse of wanting to surprise his wife with jewelry but forgetting what metal causes her allergies.  He learns that Megan has not called her mother as well increasing his anxiety.  A police officer wakes Don, who has fallen asleep in the restaurant, after seven hours of anxious waiting.  Don decides to drive back home and remembers the pleasant drive to Betty’s new house after their trip to Disneyland with his children and Megan.  He arrives at his apartment in Manhattan only to find that Megan is already there.  She had chained the door unwilling to let him inside, but he kicks it open.  Megan spent six and a half hours on a bus to Manhattan arriving in the wee hours of the morning at Port Authority.  Don raises his voice instead of offering a sincere apology causing Megan to attack him as he approached her.  She runs away from him, but Don manages to catch her and they fall on the floor with Megan sobbing at the ordeal her husband brought upon her.  He tells her that their fight is over, but she believes that their happy marriage fails with every fight.  On his knees, Don shows genuine concern for the thought of having lost his wife and Megan forgives him.  Husband and wife arrive at the office reconciled.

Don receives a loaded message from Bert Cooper, who is waiting for him in the conference room.  Bert tells Don that a client had left the agency unhappy after he had let a little girl run everything in his absence.  He reproves Don for being on love leave and neglecting his department in the process.  Bert is surprised that things have been doing well until yesterday’s fiasco with Heinz given Don’s lack of contribution.  Don repudiates Bert’s statements believing them to be his personal business, but the senior partner makes it clear that it is in fact his business.

Watch the Mad Men episode Far Away Places
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Episode 2 Season 1 – Mr. Selfridge Episode Summary 1.2

Synopsis: Harry Selfridge hears of Louis Bleriot’s attempt to fly across the English Channel and decides to persuade the aviator to exhibit his plane at Selfridges.  He enlists Miss Love to play the aviatrix at the exhibition and begins an affair with her, while Rose Selfridge becomes acquainted with the painter, Roderick Temple.  Meanwhile, the man Agnes and George Towler are trying to hide from arrives at Selfridges.

Episode Summary: The staff hastes to their posts as Mr. Selfridge makes his way to the floor.  He finds that all are in order except that there are no customers in sight and Mr. Crabb notifies him of their need for sales.  He instructs Mr. Grove to offer spot reductions on special lines for early birds, which he believes will bring in the sales Mr. Crabb necessitates aware that they have not been breaking even.Continue reading...

Mr. Leclair brings to Mr. Selfridge’s attention an issue with Ellen Love.  The woman is at the store reviewing the photographs taken of her that are to be used in her endorsements.  Ellen is unsatisfied with the photos and believes them to be dated and dreary.  Mr. Leclair finds that the photographs convey the message he wants to communicate.  To his consternation, Mr. Selfridge agrees with Miss Love and instructs Mr. Leclair to redo the work.  There is more to Mr. Selfridge’s rejection of the photographs than his desire to please Miss Love.  Mr. Selfridge would like to present Selfridges as a paradigm of modernity and is always looking for new ways to convey this message.  His visionary outlook led Miss Love to compare him to the Frenchman attempting to fly across the English Channel.  Her comparison brought inspiration to Mr. Selfridge causing him to hasten back to his office to speak with his staff and Frank Edwards.  Mr. Edwards informs Mr. Selfridge that the daredevil has signed a deal with the Daily Mail.  Fortunately, Mr. Edwards is friends with the owner of the Daily Mail long before he established the newspaper.  Moreover, Mr. Selfridge explains that his plan will help the newspaper double its circulation.

Agnes Towler speaks with Mr. Grove about finding a position for her brother, George, at Selfridges.  Mr. Grove maliciously finds the request as a favor in exchange for her discretion, aware that Miss Towler is cognizant of his affair with Miss Mardle.  Although surprised and naive of the insinuation, Miss Towler accepts his request.  Mr. Grove offers her brother a porter’s job in the loading bay.  A man enters the store and catches the eyes of Kitty Hawkins and Doris Miller.  Kitty attends to the man and he begins to charm her when Miss Towler catches sight of him and pulls him aside.  The man is Agnes’ father, Reg Towler.  She asks her father why he has come and he explains that he only wants to see her to make amends.  Knowing him to be a troublemaker, Agnes begs him not to ruin the good life she is only beginning to make for herself.  Agnes’ father acknowledges his faults and swears to have changed his ways.  She agrees to speak with him at the teashop on Duke Street during her break only to learn that her father is in need of a place to stay.  He has come to ask her to take him in, while he finds a place of his own.  Agnes reminds him of the reason why she and her brother moved out and asserted not to live with him again.  Her father, however, expresses his remorse for what he had done and vows having stayed away from alcohol in two months.  Moreover, he has found job at a hotel and states that the manager will let him reside there at the end of the month.  Her father gets on his knees to beg consequently embarrassing Agnes enough to allow him to stay with them until the end of the month.  She, however, warns him against attacking her or George again.  Meanwhile, Mr. Grove brings George Towler to the loading bay where he is to work as a porter unloading the vans coming in and loading the vans going out.  He introduces him to the porters, Alf and Sam.  Seeing that George is naïve, the two porters make fun of the young man and have him carry a heavy sack on his back, while Alf adds his own weight to it causing George to fall on the floor.  George, however, is undeterred and gains favor with the two porters.  The three unload four thousand silk scarves for an event that is happening the next day.  The event remains a secret to everyone except for the department heads.  Later, Alf apprises George of the special deliveries that he must load to the blue van instead of the usual green vans.  The man explains that those goods going into the blue vans are for urgent express delivery probably consigned to the directors of the store.  He adds that due to the nature of these deliveries, George is not to tell anyone about them.

Mr. Edwards drives Mr. Selfridge to the place where Monsieur Bleriot had just landed his plane.  Mr. Selfridge congratulates the Frenchman for becoming the first man to fly the English Channel.  Mr. Edwards introduces the American as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the owner of the greatest store in London, Selfridges.  Moreover, he explains that Mr. Selfridge is going to give Monsieur Bleriot and his airplane pride of place at his store.  Monsieur Bleriot, however, becomes annoyed with Mr. Selfridge for stealing the limelight from him, but Mr. Selfridge convinces the aviator to allow him to explain his proposal.  He explains that Monsieur Bleriot’s achievement showed them the future, and because of his courage, many others will follow his steps.  He asks him of Monsieur Bleriot’s experience and the man recounts his ordeal with pride telling him that he was flying blind.  Mr. Selfridge avows that he too knows of the feeling of flying blind and with that, he strikes a deal with Monsieur Bleriot.  Later, Mr. Leclair receives a call from Mr. Selfridge provoking anger from him so much so that he tenders his resignation to the Chief of Staff.  Mr. Grove runs after Mr. Leclair in an attempt to dissuade him from leaving and learns that the man is livid at their employer for he has the gall to order him to build a great exhibition in such short notice after he humiliated him in front of his mistress.  Mr. Leclair is upset with Mr. Selfridge for being ungrateful, but Mr. Grove argues that their employer, in fact, speaks highly of him and lauds him for his genius.  Mr. Leclair is unaware of this and Mr. Grove promises that their employer will show his appreciation before the end of the day.  Mr. Leclair, however, is ready to leave, but Mr. Grove manages to convince him to postpone his resignation until tomorrow.

Rose Selfridge is on her way out when she learns that Lady Mae had insisted to see her.  Rose asks that her mother-in-law, Lois Selfridge, to join them.  Lady Mae has come to speak to Rose with the pretense of ensuring that she and her children have settled quite nicely in London.  She begins to insinuate that the demands of Mr. Selfridge’s work must have caused him to neglect his family.  One of the demands seems to be the care of the seductive Ellen Love, who is to become the Spirit of Selfridges.  Lady Mae suggests of Rose spending more time at the store and assumes that she was on her way there when she arrived.  Rose, however, was going to the National Gallery.  This surprised Lady Mae, who finds the National Gallery, filled with disreputable people on public days, but Rose could not care less for she is going there to admire the paintings.  Lady Mae is shocked even more when Rose informs her that she will be taking the Underground to the National Gallery.  Rose is admiring Peter Paul Rubens’ painting of Samson and Delilah when a handsome young man stands beside her and whispers in her ear his admiration of the painting for its beauty.  Rose, however, admires it beyond its beauty as she finds it an unusual work of art depicting a man laid low by a woman.  The young man introduces himself as Roderick Temple, a Romantic painter, and Rose as Rosalie Buckingham, an American on holiday.  Mr. Temple informs her that he has found an extraordinary quality of stillness in her that prompted him to create a sketch of her.  He explains that he aims to capture the inner beauty and the mystery of life through the human form.  The pretentiousness of his goal made Rose snicker embarrassing Mr. Temple, but causing him to laugh with her.  The young man learns that Rose dabbled in painting in college and he invites her to his studio across Charing Cross Road.  Rose joins Mr. Temple in his studio and just as she is admiring his paintings, the young man steals a kiss from her.  She breaks away, explains herself to be a married woman, and takes her leave.  Mr. Temple apologizes and begs her to stay, but Rose has made up her mind.

Victor Colleano has an uncomfortable conversation with Mr. Perez and learns that his attractiveness is one of the reasons for his hiring.  Mr. Perez believes that his appeal is a draw for their female patrons.  He wants Victor to satisfy them including the unprepossessing ones.  In fact, Victor has caught the eye of, Lillian Worthington, a matronly patron who tips him generously and requests his services for a private party she plans to hold for a small group of friends.  He later receives a box of chocolates from Ms. Worthington causing him surprise.  Mr. Perez, after reading the note that came with the box of chocolates, explains that the party will only be with Victor and Ms. Worthington.  Victor asks Mr. Perez if he should go, and the headwaiter encourages him to do so.  He, however, decides to ask Agnes out for tea, but the young woman has some family business to take care of that evening and politely turns him down.  She, however, hints of accepting his invitation for another night.  Victor then gives her the box of chocolates he received from Ms. Worthington causing her colleagues to tease her as they try one of the truffles.

Mr. Selfridge returns to his office and dictates the ad that is to run in the newspapers.  It states that the Bleriot airplane that flew over the English Channel is on view, free of charge, on the ground floor of Selfridges.  Mr. Selfridge sees Mr. Leclair and becomes forthcoming with his compliments to him.  It becomes obvious that Mr. Grove has spoken to him of the creative director’s discontent, but Mr. Leclair remains upset with his employer despite his compliments and apologies.  He believes that Mr. Selfridge will continue to maltreat him until one day he will push him too far.  Mr. Selfridge leaves and rushes to Miss Love’s dressing room to ask her to play aviatrix at tomorrow’s exhibition of the Bleriot airplane at Selfridges.  Miss Love’s allure becomes too much for Mr. Selfridge that he gives in to temptation and passionately kisses her.  They are about to make love when one of Miss Love’s colleagues enters her dressing room embarrassing Mr. Selfridge.  The interruption caused him to think twice about what he is to embark and eventually decides to leave.  The rest of the staff of Selfridges returns home after a long day at work.  Roger Grove spends the night at Josie Mardle’s place and assuages her concern about Miss Towler’s knowledge of their affair.  He believes that Miss Towler is trustworthy and that the young woman will not betray them given that he had given her brother a job in the loading bay.  Josie, however, fears that Miss Towler will one day follow Roger home and inform his wife of the affair.  Roger becomes alarmed of Josie’s portentous thought, but remains confident that Miss Towler will do no such thing.  In fact, Miss Towler has more pressing things in her mind as she and George return home to find their father already there waiting for them.

The following day, Selfridges is heaving with people wanting to see Monsieur Bleriot and his airplane.  Moreover, they are purchasing the goods peddled in the store.  Mr. Selfridge brings his family to see the exhibition and Rose finds Miss Love, the Spirit of Selfridges, sitting atop the Bleriot plane eyeing her husband seductively.  Harry apologizes to his wife for being away most of the time, but their conversation is interrupted by Mr. Crabb, who has come to congratulate Mr. Selfridge for his achievement.  Rose finds herself alone in the crowd as her husband introduces Monsieur Louis Bleriot to the public.  Lady Mae later joins her to intimate an affair between Mr. Selfridge and Miss Love.  Rose approaches her husband to congratulate him in an attempt to avoid hearing any more of Lady Mae’s insinuations, but Lady Mae speaks to Mr. Selfridge vaguely and ominously about how the man rows, while the lady holds the tiller.  Having had enough of Lady Mae’s allusions, Rose excuses herself from the exhibition, but Harry convinces her to stay.  There is truth to Lady Mae’s intimations as Mr. Selfridge had just secured Miss Love an apartment at the posh St. John’s Wood neighborhood.  Mr. Edwards commends Mr. Selfridge for his accomplishment and asks him how it feels to make history.  Mr. Selfridge confesses that the thrill of it is gone after the fact then speaks glumly about the thought of throwing everything away including ones life.  Meanwhile, Victor finds Ms. Worthington waiting for him in her car.  He, however, informs the woman apologetically that he cannot join her for the evening for it is against the company’s policy to do so.  Agnes and George arrive home to find their father drunk and disapproving of Mr. Selfridge with claims of him working his employees like slaves.  Agnes, however, argues that Selfridges is a place where employees can rise up from the ranks to have better lives.  Their father turns to George and challenges him to a fight causing alarm on both siblings, but their father does not attack George but relishes in the fright he gave his children.

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Signal 30 – Mad Men Episode Summary 5.5

Synopsis: Lane Pryce becomes friends with the senior vice president of public relations for Jaguar and desires to be the one to bring the account to Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.  His inexperience as an account man leads the other partners of the firm to take over revealing the friend of Lane’s proclivity for prostitutes.  Pete Campbell attends driver’s education, lusts for the young woman in the class, and ends up with a prostitute to Don Draper’s dismay.  Cynthia Cosgrove brags about her husband’s work as a science fiction novelist at a dinner at the Campbells causing Roger Sterling to order Ken to put a stop to it.

Episode Summary: Pete Campbell attends a driver’s education class and begins to lust for the young woman in the class.  He returns to his suburban home only to be kept awake by the sound of a dripping faucet.  Unable to bear the incessant dripping, Pete takes out his toolbox and begins fixing the faucet in the middle of the night.  He surprises himself when he manages to stop the dripping.Continue reading...

Rebecca Pryce nags her husband, Lane Pryce, about getting dressed so they can meet her new acquaintances at a pub to watch football.  Lane has no fond memories of spending hours in a pub watching football, but agrees to the wishes of his homesick wife who wants to spend her day in the company of fellow English immigrants.  Lane finds himself having an enjoyable time at the pub as he and his compatriots celebrate England’s win of the World Cup with loud cheers.  Moreover, Edwin Baker, the husband of Rebecca’s newfound friend turns out to be the senior vice president of public relations for Jaguar Cars Incorporated.  He suggested that Lane’s firm give him a call, because they are currently looking for a new agency to break them into the American market.  Lane breaks the news to the partners and all except Pete are ecstatic about the new business.  All, however, are concerned of having Lane take the driver’s seat on this account, fully aware that he is not an account man.  Roger Sterling volunteers to become Lane’s unsought adviser.  He goes over the request for proposal from Jaguar with Lane, who is intimidated with the questions.  Roger advises that the best way to answer the questions is to have the client do it, and notes that he had done it before with the Dr. Scholl’s client.  He recommends that Lane stay sober through dinner, while making sure that the client does the opposite.  He tells him that it is best to let the client do the talking and he will learn that somewhere in the middle of the entrée, the client will share a revelation.  Roger, however, advises Lane not to delve into it until dessert at which point he is to reveal that he shares the client’s problem.  Having formed a relationship with a supposed problem shared by both of them, Lane would have forged a friendship with the client deep enough to have the client feel obligated to do him a favor by filling out the request for proposal.  Lane worries that the client might be reticent.  In that event, Roger recommends that Lane do the reverse and feed the client his story enough to have him share his as well.

Peggy Olson bumps into Ken Cosgrove in a diner and finds him unwilling to introduce her to the man he claims as Cynthia’s uncle.  Peggy becomes annoyed believing that Ken has violated the pact of taking her with him when he finds a better job at another agency.  He later informs Peggy that the man he was with was truly an editor from Farrar Straus.  Ken has kept writing under the Ben Hargrove nom de plume after his success in the fantasy and science fiction genre.  His wife, Cynthia, has spoken with the publishing house and has convinced them to take the best twenty of his works and turn them into a collection.

Pete invites Don and Megan Draper for dinner at his house on Saturday.  Don fails to shirk from the invitation that he orders his wife to cancel with Trudy Campbell.  Ostensibly, Trudy had inveigled the Drapers into accepting the invitation after she had informed Megan that Don already agreed to dine with them.  Megan, who likes Trudy, refuses to be the one to cancel and tells her husband to make the cancelation himself.  Don gives Trudy a call and finds the woman ready to pounce on his excuses determined to have the dinner happen some other evening if not that Saturday.  He finds himself unable to escape having dinner with the Campbells and acquiesces to the invitation.

Ken and Cynthia Cosgrove are already at the Campbells where Pete shows off his enormous stereo.  Don and Megan arrive bearing brownies from William Greenberg bringing nostalgia to Pete, who terribly misses Manhattan having spent most of his life there.  Pete could not contain his and Trudy’s delight at Don coming to dinner and Pete makes him aware of it.  Dinner ensues and Trudy begins to speak of the history of their neighborhood, Cos Cob.  At that time, Don and Megan still could not remember the name of Ken’s wife, but learn that the two have settled in a humble neighborhood in Jackson Heights, Queens despite Cynthia’s family being well off.  Cynthia confesses that unlike Trudy’s parents, hers requires something in exchange for every favor asked.  Megan finds the country delightful, but Ken, who grew up in rural Vermont, and Don in a farm with an outhouse do not share the same enchantment for the country.  Pete agrees that it is a charming neighborhood, but confesses to have many varmints causing Ken to divulge that Pete had kept the BB rifle he got for a wedding present.  The conversation turns to the sniper Charles Whitman, who murdered at least twenty people, and it made Trudy uncomfortable enough to ask to change the subject.  Megan, at last, learns of the name of the wife of Ken and almost reveals of not remembering it when she exclaims her name after finally hearing it.  Ken tries to prevent his wife from telling them of his work as a writer, but Cynthia is too proud of what he had accomplished that she reveals that his secret career as a writer was what brought them together.  Cynthia worked at the publishing company that had rejected Ken’s works numerous times.  Intrigued at Ken’s work, they urge her to share the novel Ken wrote.  Cynthia shares with them the plot of The Punishment of X4 where the main character is a robot whose job is to maintain the bridge between two planets where thousands of humans travel on every day.  The robot, however, removes a bolt from the bridge causing it to collapse killing everyone on it.  Learning of Ken’s secret life, Don shares that Megan came to New York to become an actress and had gone on auditions on a few commercials.  It was there that she decided to work for an advertising agency believing it to be a fun work place and eventually seeing herself working in creative.  The women go to the kitchen to get the desserts only to be sprayed with water from the faucet prompting the men to see what caused the screams and laughter.  Don takes action as a flustered Pete rushes for his toolbox.  He found that the supply was turned all the way up, something Pete had done for it stopped the leak unaware that doing so was just a coincidence.  The palaver, however, woke up the baby, but her cries melted everyone’s hearts including Don.  On their way home, Don, who is too drunk and horny to drive, asks Megan to pull over that they can make love.  Megan does so after being frightened with Pete’s car accident statistics and after being turned on by her husband fixing the sink.

Lane is having dinner with Edwin trying very hard to follow Roger’s suggestions.  He learns that Edwin had spent three years in North Africa during the war living like a dog, but mistakenly associates the man’s memories with melancholy.  Edwin, in fact, confesses that he had the best time of his life in North Africa for he associates it with his youth.  Lane, however, could not relate for he spent the war working as a supply assistant in Rosyth that he did not even spend any time away from Britain.  Finding that they do not have anything in common, Lane asks if Edwin’s wife is pleased with them being immigrants in America hoping that his wife shares the same homesickness as Rebecca.  Edwin, however, states that he has not a complaint in the world. He returns to the office the next day with news of his failure prompting Pete to suggest that he let the account men and Don meet with Edwin for dinner to talk about business allowing Lane to maintain his personal relationship with Edwin.  Lane is disappointed at having been thrown to the sidelines, but consents to the plan.  Don, Roger, and Pete have dinner with Edwin and Don proposes that they deliver the message that the Jaguar XKE is pornographic.  Edwin confesses that he intends to hand the account to them, but he would like to have a good time and makes it clear to them of the lasciviousness of his desires.  Roger brings all of them to a high-end brothel where everyone but Don succumbs to the allure of the women.  Seeing him at the bar without a woman beside him made the madam mistake him for a cop.  Learning that he is not, she entices him with other prospects, but Don continues to decline the offer noting that he grew up in a whorehouse.  After a salacious night, they drop off Edwin to his home leaving Pete and Don in the cab.  Pete, overcome with guilt especially after becoming aware that Don did not succumb to temptation, becomes upset with the man.  Although Don had said nothing the whole evening, Pete believes that the man is judging him that he confronts Don about it.  Don did find Pete sleeping with a whore abhorrent, because he saw that Pete had risked throwing his happy life with his wife and child for a night of lust.

Pete attends another driver’s education class and converses with Jenny Gunther, the young woman who confesses to find the accidents shown in class gruesome.  Moreover, the young woman becomes worried about the violence that struck Chicago and the University of Texas that troubled many especially parents and children.  She finds that the world has changed and that time has been slipping them by.  Pete could not agree more.  She finds herself revealing her love for the botanical gardens.  Pete claims that his family had donated part of it and invites the young woman to see it with him.  The young woman declines the invitation without being blunt about it.  He asks the young woman again the next time they meet and she continues to make excuses.  The arrival of Handsome, her classmate in Chemistry, provides her an opportunity to escape Pete’s prodding.

Roger learns of Ken’s work as a writer and reproaches the man for it accusing him of having his attention divided because of it.  He then leaves Ken in his office to ponder on their conversation and attends the partners’ meeting.  A livid Lane arrives and asks Joan Holloway-Harris to leave the room.  Lane goes on a rampage about losing the Jaguar account due to the previous night’s activities.  The events of which Edwin’s wife learned after finding her husband with chewing gum on his pubis, information that caused laughter amongst the men, which only angered Lane even more.  Lane is in disbelief at Pete’s statement that it was Edwin, who wanted to spend a salacious evening, believing that his friend has no taste in such activities.  Pete insults Lane with a statement that Edwin had not shared his proclivity for lasciviousness, because he found him to be a homosexual.  Lane continues with his tirade with an accusation that they had lost his account to which Pete argues that their need for him had expired the day after he fired them.  Lane challenges Pete to a fistfight to address the insults slung at him.  Pete looks at the other partners for help, but they remain silent eager to see the two fight like men.  He accepts the challenge and Pete lands the first punch, but Lane fights back drawing blood from Pete’s nose.  The men continue to watch as Peggy arrives at Joan’s office to find her listening through the intercom.  Lane lands a few more punches on Pete enough to knock him down on the floor ending the fight and prompting the men to come to the fallen man’s aid.  Pete is up on his feet despite the bloody nose and returns to his office just as Lane did.  He, with a bruised face and ego, decides to leave the office and finds Don holding the elevator for him.  Pete, in tears, confesses that he has nothing.  Joan comes to Lane’s aid with a bucket of ice and consoling words.  Pete’s statements made the man ponder of his role in the agency.  Her words, however, stirred passion in Lane.   He kisses her passionately.  Joan does not reject the man, but shows her disapproval by opening the door of his office.  Lane apologizes for his actions.  Joan accepts it and continues to be his friend with a statement that he had done what everyone wanted to do to Pete.  There is truth in her statement and Ken could attest to that for he believes that it was Pete, who tattled to Roger of his extracurricular activities.  He informs Peggy that he is putting Ben Hargrove to bed, which he does but gives life to Dave Algonquin with a new novel called “The Man with the Miniature Orchestra”.  The protagonist who is miserable with his life in the country resembles Pete.  There is no end to Pete’s misery as he attends the driver’s education class and finds Jenny in the arms of Handsome.

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Episode 1 Season 2 – The Tudors Episode Summary 2.1

Synopsis: King Henry VIII is made the Supreme Head of the Church and Clergy of England as far as the law of Christ allows.  The bishops have agreed to the title, because the caveat invalidates the whole bill.  Lord Rochford identifies Bishop Fisher as the person preventing the King from receiving full authority over the Church of England.  He orders the murder of Bishop Fisher.  Meanwhile, Queen Catherine of Aragon refuses to relinquish her role as King Henry’s lawful wife.

Episode Summary: Ambassador Chapuys returns to London in 1532 with a letter of encouragement and support for Sir Thomas More’s efforts in championing the cause of the Queen Catherine of Aragon.  Sir Thomas More, however, requests that Ambassador Chapuys not deliver it to him for although he has gained the confidence of the King he finds that no one is indispensable in the eyes of King Henry VIII.  Accepting the letter will do their cause a disservice for it will only bring forth suspicion and prevent Sir Thomas More from boldly speaking in favor of the Queen.Continue reading...

King Henry VIII summons Sir Thomas More to convey to him the complaint from the House of Commons regarding the cruel behavior and the abuses of the prelates and the clergy.  Moreover, the King relays to him the supposed desire of his people to be free of clerical rule.  Although Sir Thomas condemns the abuses of the clergy, he makes it clear that he cannot condone the vision of private belief and personal grace.  He continues to support the Church, believing it to be a palpable community that is the permanent and living sign of God’s presence.  Despite his beliefs, Sir Thomas assures the King that his loyalty and love for him prevents him from speaking against the King in public.  King Henry VIII arrives at the Parliament in Westminster to speak to the Lords and Graces about the charges laid against them.  They have been accused of betraying their King and their country for supporting the authority of the late Cardinal Wolsey and the Bishop of Rome.  King Henry VIII states that it is his sacred duty sealed before God and by solemn oath at his coronation to restore right order on Earth and assert the immunities and princely liberties of their realm and crown.  The Bishop of Rochester, Bishop Fisher, addresses the Lords and His Majesty regarding the request to admit King Henry VIII as the supreme head of the Church in England.  Bishop Fisher states that agreeing to the request will result in abandoning the unity with the See of Rome.  He warns of their realm drowning in a wave of heresies, sects, schisms and divisions that will separate them from the Christian world.  Archbishop Warham recommends giving King Henry VIII the title of Supreme Head of the Church and Clergy of England as far as the law of Christ allows.  None of the Lords and Graces expressed contempt to the proposition and so the King becomes the head of the Church of England.  King Henry VIII informs Anne Boleyn of the decision delighting the woman who believes that her rise to the throne as the new Queen of England is nearing.  Her father, Lord Rochford, however, apprises Anne of what truly happened at the tribunal.  The Bishops had indeed voted for the King to be the Supreme Head of the Church of England, but they had added a caveat that bounds his authority under the law of Christ.  Lord Rochford remains hopeful believing that only one man stands in their way, and that is Bishop Fisher.

Mr. Cromwell introduces the obscure cleric, Mr. Cranmer, to George Boleyn, who was recently tasked to negotiate with the Graces following the Convocation of the Bishops.  He reports that two bishops, Bishop Fisher and Archbishop Warham, remain recalcitrant to the King’s wishes.  Later, George Boleyn and Lord Rochford meet with the cook, Mr. Roose.  The cook receives money, a vial, and a threat against his family if he fails in his mission.  Mr. Roose nervously pours the contents of the vial to the pot of soup he is stirring.  The pot of soup is sent to the dining room where the bishops including Sir Thomas More are dining and discussing the success of invalidating the bill that makes the King the head of the Church of England through the addition of the caveat.  Bishop Fisher asks one of the servers to give him only a small helping of soup.  Everyone is given a bowl except for Sir Thomas More, who refused getting one.  Bishop Fisher asks if Sir Thomas has considered resigning his post as Chancellor and delights at hearing that Sir Thomas has decided to keep his position in order to fight for Christendom.  Soon, the Graces who have been devouring the soup begin to gag and die from the poisoned soup.  Bishop Fisher, who ate only a small amount of the soup, survived the poisoning.

Sir Thomas More reports the incident to the King and of the rumors surrounding the identity of the person who sought the bishop’s death.  He informs the King that Wiltshire and Boleyn have been rumored to order the murder.  Moreover, Lady Anne has been suspected of involvement.  King Henry becomes livid at hearing the accusation against Lady Anne believing that people find her at fault for every unfortunate event in their realm.  Although Sir Thomas refuses to impute anyone for the murderous deed, he warns the King about not seeking justice for the crime for it would appear that the murders were done with his blessing.  Mr. Roose, indeed, has been sent to the Tower of London.  The cook has been tortured to divulge the identity of the person who ordered the murders.  Lord Rochford joins Mr. Cromwell’s interrogation to ensure that the man remains silent.  Mr. Roose refuses to divulge the person who conceived the crime.  He is sentenced to die by boiling.

Mr. Cromwell presents Mr. Cranmer to the King stating that it was he who posited that the Great Matter is a theological and not a legal issue.  Hearing of this, King Henry VIII appoints Mr. Cranmer as his personal chaplain.  The cleric could barely utter a word to express his gratitude.  King Henry VIII later speaks with Lord Suffolk after learning that he married Catherine Brook, his seventeen-year old ward, that his young son may have a mother.  The King, fully aware of Lord Suffolk’s proclivity to philandering, feels sorry for the young bride.  Although Lord Suffolk does not contest the King’s incredulity, he does declare that his love and admiration for Ms. Brook has brought a change in him.

Anne Boleyn wakes in her bed as the ray of sunlight hits her eyes.  Beside her lay the poet, Thomas Wyatt, who professes his eternal love for her.  Thomas makes love to Anne Boleyn only to wake and find that it was only a dream.  The following day, he sees Anne, now addressed as Lady Anne.  Mr. Wyatt has found status in court through the patronage of Mr. Cromwell.  He presents the entertainer, Mark Smeaton.  At the request of Lady Anne, Mr. Smeaton plays a joyful tune on his violin and gives her a brief lesson.  Later, she sees an attendant delivering linen to Queen Catherine, the one she uses to make his shirts.  Livid, she confronts the King about it, angry at having found that the Queen still makes him shirts.  Lady Anne believes that the act displays intimacy between the King and Queen.  The King who has things that is more pressing in his mind, matches Anne’s anger.  He, however, informs Queen Catherine that she will no longer make his shirts.  In an attempt to placate King Henry, the Queen speaks of their daughter Mary whom she says is unwell.  However, her suggestion that they both visit their daughter only added to his anger.  King Henry proposes that the Queen go and visit their daughter and that she stay there for good.  Queen Catherine of Aragon, although hurt by the King’s words, make it known that her rightful place is to be at the King’s side.

Sir Thomas More pays Bishop Fisher a visit at the Bishopric of Rochester where he is recuperating.  He informs him that the King had showed severity towards the criminal.  Bishop Fisher, however, still frail from the poison that almost ended his life worries that the King might pursue his divorce while he lies in bed unable to put up a fight.  Sir Thomas consoles the bishop with news that only Sir Thomas Boleyn supported his proposal to proceed with the divorce without the Pope’s permission.  He notes that not even the King’s good friend, Lord Suffolk, gave him support.  The King, however, speaks to Lord Suffolk with a request, which he fulfills.  Lord Suffolk asks Queen Catherine to withdraw her appeal to the Pope, but the Queen continues to refuse to relinquish her role as the King’s true wife.  Charles Brandon returns with discouraging news that the Queen will remain unquestioning to God and her conscience.  King Henry confronts Ambassador Chapuys with a message to the Emperor.  He is unwilling to be judged by the Pope in his marital affairs and is unafraid of the threat of excommunication.  Despite the Queen’s refusal to fulfill the King’s request, King Henry informs Anne that they are to leave court for a while with a promise that the Queen will be gone upon their return.  Queen Catherine of Aragon watch as King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn leave court.  Soon Mr. Cromwell arrives to inform her on behalf of the King that she is to leave and settle in the King’s house, The Moor.  Moreover, she is to return to him the official jewels of the Queens of England.  Queen Catherine refuses to return the jewels that are rightfully hers.  She, however, leaves the court where the people including Lord Suffolk and Sir Thomas More show their respect and sadly bid her farewell.  A messenger of the Queen arrives at the lodge where the King and Lady Anne are staying with a message from the Queen.  He relays the Queen’s regret for the King not bidding her goodbye and asks of his health.  The King attacks the messenger with the message that he does not want any of her goodbyes and he does not desire to provide her any consolation.  She is no longer to send him any messages.

In Rome, Cardinal Campeggio speaks to the Holy Father regarding the King of England’s Great Matter.  The King had sent a letter urging the Curia to make a final and favorable decision on his annulment.  King Henry VIII includes in his letter a complaint against the Pope’s predecessor, Pope Clement VII, for delaying the pronouncement.  The recently installed Pope, Pope Paul III, also received a letter from the Emperor written on behalf of his aunt, Catherine.  The letter urges the Pope to prevent the annulment and to excommunicate the King.  Pope Paul III finds that they must not antagonize the King of England lest he begin a war against them.  He wonders why no one has tried to get rid of Anne Boleyn whom he believes is the cause of all this strife.  Ambassador Chapuys meets with a man who claims to be a close servant of the King willing to assassinate Lady Anne whom he believes to have bewitched the King into betraying his lawful wife and the Holy Church.  He receives a blessing from Ambassador Chapuys.

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