Mad Men 4x10

Finally the moment I have been waiting for, Beatlemania! Sally shrieks with happiness when Don got her surprise tickets for The Beatles concert at Shea Stadium. (It is now August 1965.) When Joan tells Roger she is pregnant and he must be the father, his response is typically condescending and chauvinist. Joan, though, is such a strong woman, she tells him she will take care of it herself. They visit his doctor for a referral; he reprimands Roger for taking advantage of Joan; but recommends a clinic in Morristown, NJ. Roger toys with the idea of keeping the baby, he’ll support her, but again Joan remains strong and tells him she will handle the situation – on her own. Later Roger has dinner with Lee Garner, his contact at Lucky Strike. Roger’s firm has represented them for thirty years, but now the board is terminating their relationship. He begs and pleads for thirty days to convince them and eventually Lee caves in, even though he is certain the decision has already been made.

It is interesting to say the least to learn about Lane Pryce’s relationship with his father. Lane was expecting his son to visit him from London. Instead his father arrives to bring him to London, which Lane declines politely. He does invite his father to dinner and asks Don to join them. Afterwards Lane takes them to The Playboy Club, and introduces them to an African-American waitress Toni, his Chocolate Bunny. He is infatuated. Later he tells his father he will not return to London because of her. His father hit him on his head with his cane, steps on his hand and orders Lane comes to London.

Meanwhile, the North American Aviation account, which Pete brought in three years ago when Don went missing in California, is promising to bring in more revenue as the executives wish to promote their cutting-edge defense technologies. Then two FBI agents show up at the Francis residence, claiming to perform a background check on Don who has applied for a security clearance. For forty-five minutes they drill Betty about his integrity, military history, loyalty to the country, allegiance to political clubs, and so on. Distraught, Betty calls Don complaining he did not warn her in advance. He breaks out in a nervous sweat but is grateful she did not break his cover. His past and his fake identity are catching up on him.

Don’s new secretary Megan explains she filled out the application with the standard employment information and had him sign it. The only other person alive who knows Don Draper really is Dick Whitman is slimy Pete. When Pete explains the application is part of their new NAA project, Don panics and even suggests he will leave the firm. Snailface Pete is actually supportive and offers to speak with a contact in the defense department. Later that evening Betty tells her husband about the interview with the agents. She says she does not want any secrets between them, but she does not reveal Don’s real identity to Henry. The next day, Pete wonders out loud why he needs to protect Don’s secret. But Don demands he cancels the $4 million account. What’s in it for Pete and how long until he will blow Don’s cover?

Then Faye stops by Don’s office and notices he has a fever, she takes him home. Don gets an outright panic attack when two men approach him in the hallway. He confides he is tired of running and briefly tells Faye how he came to adopt Don Draper’s identity in Korea. At the next meeting Pete informs the partners that he has made an incorrigible error that lost them the NAA account. Roger bursts out in anger. Cooper tells him to apologize. Lane announces a leave of absence. Then Joan asks about the shape of the current accounts and Roger gives a “thumbs up” for Lucky Strike. Just as we thought things were getting better with Don and the firm, they throw us these incredible curve balls! Hence the episode’s title, “Hands and Knees.”