Hands and Knees - Recap

The show opens with a bombshell: Joan is late, and it can’t be her
husband’s because he’s been gone for seven weeks. Roger says he’ll
take care of it. These things happen. He asks Joan to stay calm. As
Joan is leaving his office, Roger asks his secretary to get him an
outside line.

The phone rings and Betty answers. It’s Don, he wants to speak with
Susan. Betty says he can try. Don asks Susan if she can keep a secret,
and wonders if her friends will be jealous when they find out she’s
going to go see the Beatles at Shea Stadium on Sunday. She says
“WHAT!?” He says “You heard me.” She starts screaming and Betty takes
the phone and asks what’s going on. Don tells her, and Betty smiles
and tells Susan to say thank you, which she does. Susan is ecstatic.

Lane is informed he has a guest and he goes to the lobby with balloons
and a stuffed toy. There is an elderly gentleman in the lobby; Lane
shakes his hand and asks if he’s brought Nigel. The gentleman states
that he has not. John Gibbons and George Casey enter the lobby and are
introduced to the elderly gentleman, Robert Price; Lane’s father. Once
the two men are out of the lobby, Robert informs Lane that he is here
to bring him home, back to London. Rebecca does not want to see him
unless he’s home. Lane states that Nigel does want to see him. Robert
acts as though Lane didn’t say anything, and reiterates that he is
here to bring Lane home, and he will be in town until Friday. Lane
tells him there is no reason to stay then, but then says there is no
reason they cannot at least dine together. They make plans for dinner
that evening.

Senator Murphy would be very grateful if his constituents could be
made aware of the hundreds of millions of dollars he has brought to
California. Lane arrives late to the meeting, as it’s almost over. Don
asks if they want to avoid “defense” altogether, and the answer is no.
North American Aviation got a 60% advertising bump, to $4,000,000, and
they want to go all out with Sterling-Cooper-Draper-Price. Pete says
this is the beginning of a new era for NAA and the agency. They all
shake hands and part. Lane asks Don to join he and his father for
dinner that evening. Don says he may have plans, Lane says he would
consider it a personal favor.

Don joins them at the Bunny club. Lane asks their waitress to invite
over a beautiful black bunny in an aqua costume. He wanted to be
seated in her section.

Two gentlemen visit “The Francis Home” from the Department of Defense.
They are special agents, and ask to come in. Betty asks what this is
regarding, and one states there is no reason to be alarmed. She lets
them in. It’s regarding Don’s request for a security clearance. They
ask her several questions about Don, inclusive of asking if he wasn’t
who he said he was. She said no, she had no reason to think that.
After a 40 minute meeting, she called Don. He had no idea what she was
talking about. He asked what questions, she couldn’t remember a lot.
He asked her what she said, and she said “What do you think I said?
Nothing.” Don tells her he knows nothing about this. Don thanks Betty,
and they hang up.

Don asks his secretary Megan if the Department of Defense had
contacted him. She said yes, they sent a form, she filled it out and
he signed it. She kept a copy and shows it to him. Don is beside
himself, takes the copy and tells Megan she wants to know the minute
Pete Campbell returns from lunch. Don goes back in his office and
pours himself a drink.

The bunnies get off work and are saying their good nights. The lady he
likes, he actually loves. She fears he is going to cost her her job,
but says she loves him too. He said he wants his father to know why
he’s staying, and that’s why he introduced them.

Joan and Roger are in the doctor’s office, and he’s giving Roger a
stern talking-to. He tells Roger that he’s ruined this young woman’s
life, and that a man of ‘your age’ should be ashamed of what he’s
done. Roger said they were there for discretion, not judgement. The
doctor says he knows why they came there, and he gives them a referral
to a doctor who will take care of Joan’s problem. $400.

Pete goes to Don’s office. He’s happy about the security clearance
until he sees how angry and upset Don is. Don reminds Pete that he
has a friend at the Department of Defense, and Pete asks what Don
wants him to do about it. Don says stop it. At least find out how far
it’s gone. Don says Pete can run the agency without him, and Pete is
shocked. He promises to look into it immediately.

Roger and Joan are having drinks, and he says he hates this, hates
that it happened. He asks her if this is a sign. Says he can’t stop
thinking about her. She asks him if he wants to keep it, and he says
no, of course not. He refers to the situation as a scandal. He says
she can keep it, but it wouldn’t be his (Roger’s) child. He says IF
the husband comes home. Joan says her husband dying is not a solution.
They agree she will have an abortion immediately, and she doesn’t want
Roger to come. He will pay for the procedure, however.

Henry apologizes for missing dinner and Betty accepts it. She climbs
into bed saying it’s late and she’s tired. She tells him about the FBI
coming to interview her about Don. He reassures her. She tells him she
doesn’t want any secrets between them.

Pete and Don meet up in the elevator. Pete lets Don know his friend is
looking into it. Pete says ‘statute of limitations’ and Don says it’s
desertion, statute of limitations doesn’t apply. Don says Pete should
get rid of the North American Aviation account. He then goes into a
meeting with an attorney to set up a trust for his children now. Betty
would administer it. His attorney doesn’t like this emergency meeting
and Don being so edgy. The attorney attributes Don’s behavior to the
divorce.

Joan arrives for her appointment. There are two young laides there,
and one goes in. The one asks if she’s sure she doesn’t want her
along, and the other shakes her head no. The one remaining in the
waiting room with Joan begins to cry quietly. Joan asks if she’s okay,
and she says yes. It turns out that she’s the girl’s mother, and she
had her when she was 15. Now the daughter is 17 and pregnant. She asks
how old Joan’s daughter is, and Joan says “15”.

Don is laying on his couch, and gets a buzz that he has company, Faye.
He owes her several phone calls. She says he has a fever, and he
should get his coat and she’ll take him home. He kisses her hand.

Roger and Lee Garner, Jr are having drinks. He tells Roger “It’s
over. I’m sorry.” Roger asks if he’s trying to kill him. It’s the
Lucky Strike account that they are losing. This is a huge blow. Lee
says they’ve decided to just have one agency handle everything. Roger
says fine. Let Sterling-Cooper be the ‘one agency’. Lee says no. This
is for no cause, and there’s nothing Roger can do to change things.
It’s just the way it is. Roger says they’ve been together for 25-30
years, and we’re a family. You just don’t do things like this. Roger
asks when, how long do they have, and Lee says Monday. Roger says they
need more time and Lee says no. It’s done. Roger asks for thirty days
and Lee wants to know what that’s going to do. Roger becomes angry and
says “After all the lies I’ve told for you, you owe me that.” Lee said
he doesn’t owe Roger squat, and Roger reiterates 30 days. Just give
him time to get the agency’s affairs in order. Lee reluctantly agrees.
Lee says no hard feelings, and shakes Roger’s hand before he leaves.
Roger takes a tablet for his heart.

In the hall, Don’s hands are visibly shaking as he tries to unlock the
door. The agents who questioned Betty show up in that same hall,
claiming they are looking for the Burns, and asking if this is 110
Waverly. Don says no, and the agent apologizes as they leave. the
minute he gets inside, it is painfully obvious that Don is having a
major panic attack. Faye asks repeatedly if he is alright. He says
there is no pain, it’s not his chest, but he can’t breathe. Don vomits
after Faye refuses to leave him there like that.

Lane introduces his father to the bunny he loves, Toni. He says they
should go out for dinner now that they’ve met, and Robert begs off, as
he is traveling tomorrow. He says they should go out anyway, so she
runs ahead to hold their reservation. His father insists Lane is
coming home, and canes him upside the head, dropping him to his hands
and knees. Robert tells him to put his home in order. His dad says
“what was that” until Lane says “Yes, sir”. Robert then walks out
while Lane lays on the floor, cradling his skull.

Pete is watching TV. Trudy turns it off and asks her if there is
something she should know. Peter says no, and it has nothing to do
with her. She goes into his arms. She tells Peter he should talk to
her and he’ll feel better. He talks a bit but won’t share any
specifics. She says he can tell her anything, and then the baby kicks
and they drop the subject. Trudy tells Peter to just remember that
everything is good ‘here’.

We see Joan taking the train home, and then Roger on the phone
‘calling for Larry’. He is told that Larry is deceased. He then tears
up the contact card and takes another card from the rolodex.

Don wakes up and Faye is checking in on him. He fills her in on the
truth of his past, and what currently has him so distraught. She
suggests that since he was just a kid, he should turn himself in and
have someone plead for clemency. Don says he shouldn’t have told her,
but he’s just so damn tired of all of it. She says she’s glad he told
her, then she lays down and they spoon.

The next day, Pete shows up at Don’s place and sees Faye. She leaves
without a word. Don invites him in and Pete informs him that he spoke
to his contact, Russ, and Don has been flagged. If they break the
relationship with NAA, the investigation will stop where it is. Don
quietly says ‘Thank God’. Pete says why am I walking away from
$4,000,000? Don says tell NAA we want Martin-Marietta or Hughes. When
Pete asks what he’s supposed to tell the partners, Don remains silent,
and Pete walks out.

Roger asks Joan if she’s okay and she says she’s fine. She feels good.
He wishes he could hold her. She says they avoided a tragedy and Roger
doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Joan picks up on that. She says
they have a partners meeting. He tells her she’s so beautiful, and
they go to the meeting.

Pete starts the meeting by announcing that North American Aviation is
moving on. Pete takes the blame. Roger rips Pete a new one, while Don
sits silently by. Roger finally goes too far, and Don, Bertram Cooper
and Joan all react. Bertram tells Roger he thinks he owes Pete an
apology. Roger apologizes.

Lane announces a 2-4 week absence to return to London. He says the
company is stable, even taking Pete’s news into account. Roger bursts
into laughter. Joan says they’ll go down the current status of
account. When she says “Lucky Strike”, Roger gives a thumb’s up.

Don tells his secretary to “send her in”. It’s Faye. She says she’s
worried, and he says I’m fine, everything’s fine. She suggests they
get something to eat. He says tomorrow, she agrees. Saturday night?
Don says yes. Megan comes in to apologize, bearing the Beatles
tickets. Don drops the tickets on his desk and watches Megan touch up
her make-up.

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