Fascinating (and true-to-life!) office politics in "Six Month Leave." Freddy, a decent guy, "never saw it coming" from Pete Campbell. The interesting (and very subtle) point is that he could have been "protected" (his job saved) by Don -- had Don known about it prior to it becoming a "done deal" in Roger's office. Don walks in to the meeting in Roger's office with Duck and Pete Campbell already sitting there, and Don says: "I'm usually in on "the meeting before the meeting."

Then, when Don calls Peggy in to tell her of her "promotion," he says: "I don't like walking into a ambush from Duck and Pete Campbell."

The significance of that comment (to Freddy's fate) is lost on Peggy. She doesn't realize that had she immediately gone to Don, he could have gotten to Roger and defused the incident before the "hatchet men" got to Roger. Instead, Peggy runs into Pete's office, angrily asking him: "Why did you have to tell Don?!"

Since Pete doesn't disabuse Peggy of that error, I have to think that Pete is quite content to let Peggy go on thinking that Don was the villian here --that keeps Don and Peggy from "getting together" on office issues -- two strong people who are foiled in their mutual concern for Freddy by the inevitable ambiguities, competing motives and "smoke screens" of "office" politics!

jackie_monroe...
Peggy barged into Pete's office because he had told Duck and Roger about Freddie's accident. She was going to tell Don about it later, but with Pete orchestrating an end run around Don, he was able to position himself as the level-headed leader and Freddie as a customer-jeopardizing drunkard. His goal was to be rewarded for alerting management about the near-catastrophe. Pete has stopped fawning over Don and substituted Duck's protection and guidance. Once Pete feels his job is safe, he will begin to think about how he can use 'the secret' to finally get himself in Don's office.

A hard lesson for Peggy; she almost inaudibly responds, "Congratulations, Pete."

Great episode...

greytone...
Love your analysis of Pete's smarmy MO. But check out the scene again to catch the "throwaway line," where Peggy says to Pete: "Why did you have to tell DON?"

I didn't notice if until my second viewing, but it's there...like another one of those subtle things the writers slip in. Shows how naive and "un-political" Peggy still is: she assumes people do things like she would do them (if she had told anyone, it would have been Don, so natch she assumes that's who Pete told). She's not yet on to Pete's total devious plan as you outlined!

Yes, I didn't explain it too well...he did tell Don....but, although Pete had told Peggy not to go to Don, it wasn't because he didn't want him to know...it was because he wanted to be the one to tell him...along with Duck and Roger.

Peggy was planning to tell Don, but Petey-boy showed her how it's done...the 'big' boys strike and advance with each strategic step, Peggy was just a step behind. "Why did you have to tell Don?" could have easily have been, "I wanted to be the one to tell Don..what do you think you were doing?"

Great show, right?

greytone...
Yes..it's almost unbelivable how good that show is...better than most movies. (BTW, reminds me that Dreamworks is trying to cash in on MM's sucess, with their copycat movie "Revolutionary Road," due out in December. Have you seen the trailer, which they run right after MM)?

It won't touch the brilliance of the writing and acting of MM though. In my opinion, MM is a new benchmark for TV.

Wait until Duck falls off the wagon, and see how much mercy Don shows Duck......about the same as what Duck had for Freddy Rumsen. It's coming, believe me. Duck set himself up for a big fall if he ever falls off the wagon - he just gave Don the ammo.

jamm54....
Oh yes, i think you're right. And maybe that's one of the motives for Pete Campbell teaming up with Duck--if Pete "gets in" with Duck, he'll easily learn his weaknesses, engineer his "downfall," and be right in line to take over Duck's position.

As a corollary, did anyone but me recall when Roger barfed during the client meeting in Season 1? Freddy wet his pants behind closed doors. You'd think Roger would be a little more sympathetic.
Just when I thought nothing could top the "remove your hat" scene that took place in the elevator in episode 1 of season 2, I thought the Drapers' punch to Jimmy Barrett scene was even better!

WHAT A BORING AND AWFULLY DEPRESSING SHOW. EVERYONE SLEEPS WITH EACHOTHER WHILE BEING MARRIED TO SOMEONE ELSE. NO LAUGHING OR SMILING EITHER. I'D RATHER WATCH PAINT DRY. HOW SAD WHEN SOCIETY THINKS THIS IS ENTERTAINING! IT DISGUSTS ME TO WATCH SUCH CRAP. THANKFULLY I WATCHED ONLY 2 EPISODES. THAT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR ME! WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE GOOD OLD FAMILY SHOWS? THE ONLY THING THAT SELLS IS SMUT AND GARBAGE...

I didn't like that Don sucker punched Jimmy, then again I didn't like how Jimmy confronted Betty about the affair. If Jimmy was a real man, he should have confronted Don.You know, man to man.Don is the one who takes his anger out on Jimmy, when instead he should own up to what he did. It scares me how Don has no remorse over loosing Betty. Don is like a robot.

...HollyGoLightly..
.
I wonder if Don really has no remorse, or if he's "compartmentalizing" his feelings, as men were expected to do--not show emotion, etc.. as part of the men's "code" of the time?

To me, he's a fascinating character, because (I think) he has the capacity to feel for others--yet he's also very good at "playing the game." So maybe there's a conflict going on inside of him, and the tension of that is causing all of this violent, unacceptable behavior--the kind of behavior in learned from his childhood.
(The conflict being that you can't act in accord with your feelings and "play the game" at the same time). He might be reluctant to give up the game because he's gotten everything he thought he wanted in life by, among other things, being good at it.

I agree with you that Jimmy wasn't acting like "a real man," but let's face it--he's not. He even kind of admitted that to Betty, saying something like he's had to "go behind" men like Don all his life..(or some quote to that effect).

Do you think that Jimmy might not have "minded" the punch so much?, It proved he'd gotten to Don, plus it gave him attention -- something he likes as a performer. Plus, (just occurred to me)...it might make people think that Jimmy had "cuckold'ed" Don. Wouldn't Jimmy love it if people thought that!
(I'm assuming that Jimmy doesn't hold marital fidelity as a personal value--because he's stayed married to his wife despite knowing of her many infidelities).

What do you think?

Can't wait for tonight's episode.

...ericcooley..

How could one forget Roger barfing in front of clients in the office! You're right, it makes Roger a weazling hypocrite in regard to Freddy! I'm glad you brought out that point.

Makes me think that Roger has "weakened" since his two coronaries -- and I'm not just talking physically. In the past he would have been ready to "take on" Pete and Duck (with Don's backing) and do the right thing by Freddy.

He's too tired for a fight now, and he senses that were he to alienate the "ruthless" Pete and Duck he would not get the easy pass from them that he can get from his old friend Don.

I loved the "hat in the elevator" scene too.

I think Don definitely has remorse. Remember the episode when he came home from a tryst, and the family was in the middle of dinner. One of the kids asked "Why can't Daddy have salt?" Betty replied
"Because we love him." He sat there looking at his food like the biggest heal in the world. Yet he can't stop himself from cheating. He's like a drug addict. I wonder what'll happen in LA?