Would he do it? That would just blow me away if he cut out on Betty and the kids for good, and relocated to the opposite coast.

Hi jamm54! I think the "sex" scene between Betty and Don was Don's dream. I posted on the main thread Episode 10 why I think so.
It would be interesting if Don decided to go to LA for good. It is a possibility, things in NYC are closing in around him.

I'm very excited to see Don in L.A. The man (and us viewers) deserves a change of scenery. Too bad his travel companion is that ass-pain Pete.

For some reason, I get the feeling Don is going to disappear at the end of the season.

Don waits for inspiration to know what to do next in his life, just like he does in his ad campaigns. He doesn't make things happen until the deadline is on him and he has to act quickly. Then, someone gives him a reason to go or to stay. That reason never seems to be controlled by Don, but by his outside influences. I agree he fantasizes about running away, but he can't do it without a push. But, as we saw in the last scene a new day is dawning. Dawn, Don? It makes me want to watch next week.

visan, i hope don doesn't diappear permanently!
60s, the scene on the floor didn't seem like a dream sequence to me...and i think jamm is right, there's the potential for betty having gotten pregnant and hiding it from don until.....

I dont think Don dreamed that sex with Betty. She needed to be comforted with all this drama about her father dying. And I sort agree with Visan that Don might just disappear, and like Betty will try and find himself. I think right now Betty doesnt want to be a mother to a grown man (Don) or a mother to somebody who has a romantic fantasy about her (Glen) She needs to be a mother to her kids, and to herself, because like she told her Nanny Viola, I am an orphan, and Viola tells her, no your not, you have your husband and your children, they will take care of you and you of them. So I think that Betty is going to take her advice and be a Parent to the kids first, and then maybe Don, if she ever decides to bring him back. I can also see a pregnancy at the finale, but to me that is to soap operish, and I know the writers on this show are more brilliant than that. Or if they do it, it could either be Don stuck in another trap, or Betty and Don trying to reconcile for the sake of the new born, and thus start off fresh.

I didn't think the floor sex was a dream either, based on how Don looked the next morning, not wearing his T-shirt. I do think Betty will find out she's preggo during the finale. I'm hoping not every Mad Men season ends with some chick finding out she's pregnant. That's rather lame!

Didn't Betty allude to the bedroom floor scene when they returned home and Don was obviously feeling like he had returned home for good? She said something about them both acting and nothing had really changed. "What do you want?" he asked her. He told her he wanted to be there with her and the kids - be there for her, and yet, she still booted him out the door. Go figure. No, I am pretty sure it was not a dream. 'Sides, like Visan said, he was all on the outside of his white undies next morning.

I believe the floor sex was real because, as Visan said, Don woke up wearing only a blanket.

I definitely think they've telegraphed a Betty pregnancy. When she threw up in Don's car, they were coming from "The Stork Club." That day she saw the Utz commercial, then called and told him not to come home, she had "something in the oven." I think there were a couple of other instances, as well, but those two stuck out in my mind.

You may all be right. But, that bedspread thing...It was too perfectly tucked in the next am to have been removed...I don't know, anything is possible.

This is just a general rant! Don't read if easily offended or a "stan" or a fanboy!

I hated that season one finale! The Kodak presentation was cheesy as hell. But the worst was Peggy's so-called surprise pregnancy. That was some Maury Povich/Jerry Springer shit! And I thought Mad Men was better than that! Can't say I've high hopes for the season 2 finale if it's like last years wackness!

*end rant!*

Don didn't have a dream. As has been said, look for Betty to get pregnant which may lead to a forced reconciliation.

Looking at some of the actors' pictures for next episode, Donnie Boy may be in for a helluva alotta fun in L.A.!

If Betty's pregnant, we won't find out in the Finale. We'll see her sporting a maternity blouse in next season's opener. Or a new baby!

Oh, they slept together alright. Betty hurt Don by dismissing it as "playacting" (I know I don't mean anything to you - just an anonymous screw). Though I thought he seemed VERY loving and tender with Betty while making love to her. Betty's so hurt over the infidelities, she's just throwing it all out the window: you never loved me, you never cared, you were never committed, I was nothing to you. Too bad, I think she's only half right on some of that. I think Don DOES love her, and the infidelities were not even remotely related to his feelings about Betty, but about his need to escape the DD identity pressure momentarily.

I do think Don's checking LA out, and is considering leaving the east coast, Sterling Cooper and Betty behind. If Betty will not have him back and he'll rarely see his kids, I can see him just sending in the alimony checks. What's the point of staying?

As for Sterling Cooper, in some ways that seems like a sinking ship. Coop is getting old and senile, and Roger has tentatively launched a new life as a besotted lover. If both Coop and Roger are out of "commission" as far as pulling their share of the work load in running Sterling Cooper, that leaves it all up to Don. Uff da, and sometimes I feel Roger is way off in how things should be handled. Maybe Don doesn't want to fight that. Don's starting to get tired of fighting on all fronts, so I can definitely see him escaping again.

Is the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles?

Don's gotta get back into bad-ass mode! His walking around wounded is not a good look on him! Last night went back to the season's initial 2 shows that left me pissed that the writers de-clawwed Don! His acting all "sweet" sucks and ain't cutting it!

Don bailing out of SC and his homelife in SingSing for greener pastures doesn't seem plausible. Unless he gets a great job offer in L.A.,I can't see him leaving behind Sally and Bobby Don seems like he loves them so much.
If Betty does get pregnant,that would be reason enough for Don to move back home.
One thing I don't get is why Don is allowing Betty to call all the shots in regards to him coming back home. He pays all the bills,provides for her and the kids and still has to ask her permission to move back in? It seems out of character for Don the alpha male to buckle under Betty's whims.He's a take charge kind of guy but he can't seem to man up and go back home.
I hope to hell he beds down with a couple California girls while out in L.A. Hell,he's probably screwed half of Manhattan's best and brightest, time to sow his oats in LA LA land.
It does get rather weary if it's all dark and desperate in Mad Man world. More fun to see Don at his low down,live for the moment,forget about the future self.

Jamm54: Coconut Grove was a popular nightclub in Hollywood in the '30s and '40s. I'm not so sure it was still hot in the '60s. Anybody?

@mm4ever: That's what I'm sayin'! Went another site, scoped out this one actresses pic who is supposed to show up in the next episode. She may just be what Don needs to get back to being the alpha male who's not gonna be hen-pecked! I don't like much de-balled Don, losing his damn swagger!

60"schild: I thought it was a dream, too. I thought Betty went to sleep in her slip and when she got on top of Don, she had that "granny" shirt on. Betty handed him the pink (there's that crazy color again!!) chenille spread, but he woke up in a beige blanket.
However, later at home when Betty says to Don, "We were just pretending", I thought she meant the sex....but maybe she meant that they were civil to each other in front of her family.

Madmanfanforever: I think Don would still be home if it weren't for getting caught with Bobbie. He's banished for cheating and he knows it. His biggest mistake is thinking Betty is a fool. "Hell hath no wrath like a woman scorned", and Don just isn't up to the fight. Deep down, he realizes they need to be apart right now, IMO. It will be interesting to see what happens in California!

I just watched last night's show on DVR. While they are preparing for bed, Betty hands Don the chenille bedspread and he wraps up in it and goes to sleep. They have a long shot of Betty in bed in the peter pan collar things, but her eyes are open, and Don appears asleep, he with the bedspread, she with the beige blanket tucked in tightly. Then Betty goes to Don and when he wakes up, he is wrapped in the beige blanket. her bed is neatly turned down, smooth, with the bedspread in place on the bed. Betty's face when she goes to Don is happier and lighter looking than we ever see Betty. You could convince me either way on whether it was a dream or not. Both have merits and I can't tell. Later, though, I do think their happy marriage was the playacting, though, I think.

Are you leaving us? Bert asked. You know how they trick us with the priviews. The edited version looked like Bert was talking to Duck...but could he have been asking Don?

I'm still wondering who the hell Don sent that book to? Y'all think it could be that Randon House lady?

Or Bert could be asking Joan?

@Visan. A little trip to L.A. for Don will have him back to the rooster in the henhouse kind of scene that he thrives on. So I am cheering for Don to hook up w/ at least one woman while he's out there on biz.
@Jolie10.Yes, Don would still be at home if he didn't get outed for banging Bobbie. I think he didn't think Betty would ever be able to live without him."You need me", he told her in last nights episode.Aside from her real creepy encounter with Glen,she's managed to hold her household somewhat together
due to Carla capable hands. If she didn't have Carla there,she'd be in big time trouble (can you say Valley of the Dolls.....)
I think the book went to dear Rachel....at least that's who I wish it was sent to.Now that would be a nice reveal if the writers let us know who that book went to!

@MM4ever: Don acting like he's cock of the walk is the best thing about Mad Men. So when he's hen-pecked and wussy, the show loses most of its lustre to me! He needs to hit the sheets with a woman other than his wife! That will reinvigorate him! California...here Don comes (pun intended!)!!

California is inevitable for Don - his behaviors will not only be tolerated, they will be condoned. He can re-invent himself more times than Madonna. Coming to CA to start over is a time-honored American tradition, but never more so than in the 1960's.

The Cocoanut Grove WAS in L.A., but is long gone.

I think once Betty finds out Don is in L.A., she'll start to soften and want him back. I think she knows Don will leave if she keeps this up.

Betty did concede to Helen Bishop that without Don she felt like she'd float away. To me, that was a sign that she really can't imagine life without him. He is her anchor (in her mind) whether she wants to truly act on that feeling or not. Or let Don know that.

If they come together again, I don't think Don will ever be able to quite fully lapse back into treating Betty like she's a child or incapable of being without him. She is his equal now, through separation and hardship, and he's going to have to respond to that and not treat his as a "less than" partner.

Fingers crossed next Sunday's show will focus on Don. I need more Don-centric episodes!

Don in LA with Pete of all people. Pete the one who knows who he is and who never gets any extra time alone with Don. I can't see the two having a late night drink together and talking about life, like Roger and Don did. How will Don handle having to spend so much time with Pete.

I think you'll be getting it Visan. I have an idea that they're not going to be reconciled before the end of the season.

I also have this very creepy feeling that something truly bad is going to happen to Paul. I don't know if he'd be more of a traget than Sheila on the voter registration march, but it could end up that way. Paul's actually a pretty nice man, but he's such a bore and a windbag. Talk about insecure.

@Jamm: From your lips to the writers' pens! LOL! I hate Pete and think he's an entitled brat! But it just dawned on me that he was suffering aviophobia and wore the mask to shield his fears! I would call him snivelin' but losing his dad that way had to scare the living crap out of him! Having said that, I'd still like to watch Don strangle him!

What may me laugh was thinking that Don must be pretty desperate to take a break and get away that he'd sign on for a cross-country trip with Pete Campbell, his own personal blackmailer! LOL! That REALLY screams desperate to get away.

What's the quote? "A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged." Hello, Paul!

I thought it was interesting that Don didn't want Paul talking, just Pete. Pete, for all his faults (and there are many), would have presented a better face at the conference than Paul would.

I think Pete wore the mask for the reason most people do. To sleep. As an experience jet traveler he would be aware of jet lag.

I can't wait for the next episode. I was 8 years old in 1962 and so much of this is still clear in my mind.

I love looking for problems with scenery etc and find there are surprizingly few. One obvious one in this one though and I haven't seen any comments on any threads, but could have missed it. The interior ?of the plane they are flying in is much too new for the time, if I'm not mistaken. Would they have had that sleek plastic interior? The windows seem to be a giveaway and look more like the later 700 series, but I could be wrong. I don't know that much about airplane design, just a gut feeling, but wouldn't be the first time I was wrong. My impression was that they put upholstered seats in that looked appropriate to the time and hoped no one would catch it, but it could be that they are on the newest jet available as it is transcontinental.

Anybody have any thoughts?

Maybe we should start laying odds on how many women Don and Pete will "bed" in their one-week getaway (or was it 2 weeks). It might be 2 weeks - wasn't plane travel pretty slow then? Faster than a train of course, but not the kind of planes we have now.

Hey greyflannelgirl we're the same age! I don't know about the plane interior, I didn't get on one for the first time until 1979 (when I was 25)! Then my second "plane trip" was to London.

From "Six Months Leave" the only thing that didn't "ring" true at all was Roger giving Freddy Rumsen a hug at the end before they sent him off. Men did NOT hug each other in the old days. They just did not show that kind of physical "warmth" at all - that's modern. Freddy would've been sent off with a warm handshake, but no hug. Hugging between men didn't start happening until the 80's or early 90's.

jamm54: good observation on the manhugging. Just goes to show how we are programmed to accept certain behaviors. Wonder what men from that era would have to say....How does that relate to towel snapping in the locker room. They WERE drunk as skunks. Wonder if that would have made a difference???

Men from the era would've been aghast. I think part of it was homophobic, men just didn't touch each other at all except in a handshake.

Even fathers and sons didn't hug once the son was in his teens. Of course, that could be a blanket assumption, but I never saw it between my dad and brother or in other families.

I'm not even sure when Peggy got her promotion that there would've been a handshake from Don to Peggy at that time. She would've thanked him, and that'd be it (did they shake hands - can't remember). I just know when I was in advertising, the whole handshake thing between men and women doing business was still kind of new on both sides. The older men wouldn't always offer their handshake, but if I offered mine, they'd do it. The younger men always shook my hand (and unfortunately would wipe it out with very, very painful grips - sometimes I think on purpose).

the only thing i've liked about pete so far is when he "burst the bubble" of his hideous mother by telling her she's broke. though she's so dense i wonder i if it sunk into that upper-crust peabrain of hers.

and if don is de-balled (once again i must applaud visan's wy with words) and tamed, this show will swirl right down the crapper. i'm not saying he has to jump every woman he encounters, especially not bobbi types, but he has to make use of that testosterone on a regular basis!

No matter how many characters are introduced or let go (I miss Rachel! And Freddy!), Don's the center of the show. This is pure speculation but I get the feeling one episode will be without Don or have Don in very few scenes to give others a more prominent role and/or demonstrate just how "clueless" the characters (home and work) are without Don holding it down! Just speculatin'!

@Boca: ITA! Hard to explain but I enjoy his character most when he's displaying all that masculine energy...without his wife! Domesticated Don sucks!

yeah visan, whether it's don dominating and penetrating the world of advertising and the plebes in the office, or don dominating and penetrating something or someone else, he's the show's mainstay. when don's not around, people have blank looks on their faces. especially wifey, who lhas moved from blank to catatonic.

I think most folks on here agree that Don when he's being bad is 10x more entertaining than Don being good. It's like expecting Tony Soprano to go to sensitivity training and not order anyone to get whacked. This is an ensemble cast,but Don Draper is front and center and kind of holds the glue together.
hopefully we will see Don back in action in LA. hooking up with a Hollywood Hottie,giving Pete the brush off and cattin around
solo. Don doesn't need a wing man along,especially a snake like Pete. One of the many things I like about Don is he is particular when it comes to his indiscretions. We've seen him rebuff the overtures of the horsey faced twin in Season 1 and he turned down a beautiful Asian waitress. For all the whoring around that he does,he is selective,so he's not a total slut like Roger.
When he does return home to Betty,I hope he won't have to change his ways and revert to Don towing the line.It will make for some dull storytelling.

i too thought about Don going to LA and staying. I don't think he would though. There's going to come a time when Don will decide he can't run from his crap anymore.

Just a thought....

I couldn't care less if Don stays with his wifey. I only care that he stays a nympho! Don the Magic Wand is much more entertaining than Don the Wuss!

Don the Wuss ? How about Limp Dick Whitman?

i doubt don will engage in any actual sexcapades in la while pete's in the vicinity. too much danger of discovery, and don's secretive and discrete about his affairs. however, i can see don meeting a female exec out in la, some woman with a measure of power and independence in her field, and that meeting turns into a cross-country liaison, with the woman visiting on business in nyc and don introducing her to the draper treatment. perhaps she will be someone he actually falls in love with.

Don with one woman is unwatchable to me! His whoring makes the show G-R-E-A-T!

@bocarton. I thought about that too.....w/ Pete being out there it may limit Don's freedom to pursue some opportunities.
Don is discrete,but hey the guy can't help himself so maybe he'll get a hook up while he's out there.He doesn't have to spend any extra time with Pete than is related to business.
We are going to have to see some levity next week because this week was so dark and creepy (Betty and Glen,Betty's Dad) If he does met a woman it would be fun if it was a cross country romance if only for a change of scenery.
when are the writers going to get Ken Cosgrove a love interest? He's not had much luck with the ladies at SC. maybe Kitty could introduce him to one of her friends?

Pete and his brother should send that bitch of a mother to the crummiest old folks home they can find. LOL!!! Sometimes I am diabolical.

ME, ME, I volunteer to be Ken Cosgrove's love interest! LOL..... I just LOVE Ken Cogrove.

@LaurieB. Yes, I like Ken too. If un-sexy Harry (that baby bonnet was too much!) and slimy Pete can get some action,why hasn't Ken gotten any nookie???He is way better looking and actually has some sincerity.
Pete is so damn creepy....like a Pee-Wee Herman clone.His mother is a real battle axe,probably will outlive Pete and Bud she's so mean. Trudy needs to get a grip and dump Pete. He is such the guy to hate,but you have to give credit to VK for a hell of an acting job.
Maybe the writers will listen to us and give Ken a love interest.

Pete being firm "Do I have to put my foot down?"

Boy that poor Trudy didn't even blink.

@peggyann. Trudy needs to grow a pair,get rid of Pete and be with a man who is capable of love and isn't selfish. That's not the first time Pee Wee Pete has issued an ultimatum to Trudy and she obeys him. Gawd! Were all these women so subservient in 1962 that they couldn't see the forest for the trees?

I agree, jamm54. The Telstar music at the end, when Don is flying to California, put together with the morning sunlight travelling over his face, and the "Aha!" look in his eyes, made me think it's the dawning of a new day for Don Draper.

visan, never fear, don will never limit himself to just one woman. even if he fell in love, he would not be able to limit himself to a little dessert on the side.

@Boca: I hope that's the case! The day/night/whatevs Don Draper is "into" only one woman, will be the time I no longer watch Mad Men! I'd rather watch paint dry than watch "goody goody" Don! :-P

Flying from NYC to California would be aboard a Boeing 707 which came out in 1957 as I recall. So the flight, while long, was nowhere as long as it would have been aboard a Constellation four-prop job.

I agree, time for Ken to get a love interest since it seems his dalliance with Allison has ended. Not Joan but it could be Hildy. But then he's got lots of numbers. Let's not forget the voice talent from last season Peggy told him to console.

In the preview, it looks like Peggy's got one of the Smith boys interested.

I thought it was interesting that Pete told Bud that (regarding having kids), "We tried." Not, "We're trying four nights a week for months now with no success." If Pete found out Peggy had his kid, I don't think he'd do anything except smirk. Trudy would care. But not Pete.

@LaurieB: I volunteer to be Ken Cosgrove's love interest!

Poor Ken. Sal is smitten with him

They elude to Betty seeking romance at the office. It'd be too easy if it were Betty and Ken. It'll probably be Betty and one of the Dynamic Duo.

The remaining one will hook up with Sal.

Ken deserves more story time. If Paul the weasel gets enhanced story time, so should Ken.

I think Don might be wooed by the Aerospace industry, (head up in the clouds) or meet some Surf Betty. ala Annette Funicello. Well, perhaps a more mature Hollywood starlet.

Dick Whitman would have to be careful in the aerospace industry. A security clearance/ background check would bring his house of cards tumbling down.

I meant Peggy, not Betty... LOL Betty seeking romance at the office. That'd get Don's goat.

Suzanne Pleshette. Or maybe Claire Bloom. Starlets with an edge. Those would be Don's type.

One of the ladies listed as a guest star in the next episode looks a little like Maggie Siff, so maybe it'll be her. Compare this picture with this picture, and you'll see what I mean. I don't know what this person's role is in the show, but I could certainly see Don going for her. Or maybe she'll latch onto Pete...heh.

According to spoilers, in either the last episode or the penultimate one Sterling Cooper is in disarray as a result of Don's absence. That means he's probably going to be in L.A. for a while. I doubt Pete will still be there.

@Grin: Thanks for the picture comparison. Those 2 ladies do bear a striking resemblance!

Hoping Donnie Boy has his fair share of California love....

a_mob_hit:
Dick Whitman would have to be careful in the aerospace industry. A security clearance/ background check would bring his house of cards tumbling down.

Only if it would be thorough for a permanent clearance. They'd probably only check back for the past ten years and find that he has one drunk driving ticket. Called a National Agency Check. Going back fifteen would bring up his discharge from the Army Corps of Engineers. A minute risk of a connection with anyone the real Don would have known: Don grins. "Sorry, I get that occasionally. I'm not that Don Draper but I did run into him once in Korea."

A bigger risk would be meeting someone in the Army who knew him as Dick Whitman. But those people probably never heard that "Dick" was killed.

Wow, that Justine Eyre photo reminds me of Gina Lollobrigida!

I can't believe Peggy would hook up with one of the Smith guys. Well....I hope it's the one who speaks English. LOL. I was thinking maybe it'd be the new guy Harry hired for the Broadcast Operations job. But Smit or Smitty.?... blech.

Don have the tendency to cheat antway, it won't surprise me to see him screw some one in LA. He might or might not leave Betty. He loves the kids and i dont think he will abandon them. If he does leave he will see that Betty has always been there like a wife should be and come crawling back after he has his fun. He better hope that Betty don't move on while he's down there. Also, Peggy seemed to be dressed better I hope she keeps it up.

@LaurieB. Every time they have Smith & Smithy together in a scene I have to double over w/ laughter.A while back another poster referred to them as the "Ambiguously Gay Duo" that's portrayed as those 2 cartoon characters on SNL.
So when I see them I think of that and I crack up. The one guy who is unintelligible is really strange.I guess the dark haired one is hitting on Peggy.
Peggy needs to get that hairstyle updated pronto before she seeks a new man. Those bangs and ponytail are begging to be released

I think Pete's gonna lose his isht over Peggy and one of the Smith's. That should make for good viewing.

I could see Don having a business lunch at the Brown Derby or Romanoff's in Hollywood - that'd be a hoot.

Maybe Don and Pete will end up meeting Mr. Break the Sound Barrier, Chuck Yeager. Or they meet the original Mercury 7 astronauts (Glenn, Shepard, Grissom, Cooper, Schirra, Carpenter, Slayton). That would be kind of fun.

@Jamm: The historical L.A. locales would be good to explore on the show. A change of scenery, literally. Don is all the way, alright!

madman4ever...
The preview shows it's the lighter-haired part of the duo that Peggy will "meet at eight" for a date. The cast listing identifies him as 'Kurt' Smith played by Edin Gali. His character does have some unusual interests, and has defined his fashion sense wearing that jumpsuit. ...lol... Peggy's bored...what's a girl gonna do?

I never date or sleep where I work. Ever. Easy to say? You're right...I didn't know that 'til I moved to Atlanta where the men I am attracted to were in positions of power. Very exciting. Fortunately, my satellite location was away from the real corporate action...but BOY was I tested! I survived because the entire city was full of hunky, working men, too. Sighhh.... At work I had to act like I had no sex life (like Don does...). Anyhoo...was glad I withstood the pressure as the horror stories of those jilted, relocated and destroyed by these sloppy affairs came to light....

It'd be fun if they show the Hollywood/Los Angeles of the early 1960's. Annette and Frankie anyone? Or the surfer shirts, and beach party atmosphere. That's what I remember as a kid was the influence of California (pre-Beatles) as being the happening place to be: sun, sand, surf, fun.

Ok, ladies...MM did give Ken a love interest..SAL!! They tried to hook them up, but Ken wouldn't cooperate . LOL You have to admit, Sal is the best dressed on the show. I guess being a man was Sal's only downfall. Ken will just have to stay on the sidelines and wait for another episode. Now about the trip with Don and Pete to LA.... I don't care who hooks up with who, just PLEASE don't put Pete in a Speedo at the pool. I am still having nightmares over his tennis short outfit, Pete in a Speedo would send me to Dr. Wayne for therapy. Cheers ;o)

Pete in a Speedo is the making of a nightmare!!! Lawd!!! Just the thought of his chicken legs exposed makes me wanna vomit! Yuck!

Well I'm sure we'll get the full Pete Campbell treatment with him in a garishly loud golf ensemble. :) He does know his plaids; remember he made that joke about the bay turning plaid after the plane full of golfers went down?

I just hate Pete's guts! He really needs a good ass-kickin'! Been crossing my fingers for 2 seasons that Don puts a well-polished wingtip up Snivelin' Silver Foot's bony behind!

Did I mention I hate Pete!?

So right, Laurie darling....Pete probably knows his plaids! ;o) Do you think he will take some fashion pointers from the golf outfit Bert Cooper paraded around in at SC that Sunday? I can see Don showing up on the golf course looking like a young Arnold Palmer in his golf attire and Pete showing up looking like a young Bert Cooper in his plaid socks and knickers. Visan might get her wish and Don will take one look at Pete and say, "that's it Bozo, you're fired!" Cheers ;o)

Justine Eyre is a llittle prettier than Maggie Siff, but no one has come close to being as pretty as January Jones yet. Still rooting for Betty.

Jamm54, I have read many of your posts and must commend you on your thoughts about this show.

Your comment about Mr. Sound Barrier (Chuck Yeager) and listing the Original Mercury 7 astronauts blows me away. Great knowledge! I am curious to see which astronauts Don will meet.

I believe the show's current date is around Fall 1962 so Don will miss meeting all of the Original 7. A year later in the Fall of 1963, all 7 were in LA to receive an award at the annual awards banquet for Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

I have been waiting for this week's episode because there is a definite link between the projected image of Don Draper and the iconic American Astronaut. I will wait until tomorrow night's show to provide my observations and ideas.

As a kid who grew up on Creature Features and Saturday afternoon re-runs, I became quite the science fiction fan. One of my favorite movies was a sci-fi classic titled "Robinson Crusoe on Mars" a story of an American astronaut stranded on the red planet. The lead actor was a gentleman by the name of Paul Mantee. The young Mr. Mantee is the splitting image of Jon Hamm (check it out Visan!). Oh, the character he portrayed - Kit Draper! Mr. Weiner - any connection here?

Thanks Polar Bear, some of it's from Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff" (about the original 7 and NASA's space program), being in love with the space program as a kid (enthralled) or as Yeager called the astronauts "spam in a can". And a definite love of some sci-fi movies (Forbidden Planet, Close Encounters, 2001: Space Odyssey, Day the Earth Stood Still, Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Blade Runner, Martian Chronicles) and authors (Bradbury, Asimov, Heinlein).

I remember the movie title "Robinson Crusoe on Mars", just don't remember if I saw it and think I confuse it with (you're going to hate this) the 3 Stooges being in some kind of "space" movie.

Hey, FYI, I can't believe it, but they're debuting a series on Robinson Crusoe next week called "Crusoe" (another book I loved as a kid), I think on Friday - can't remember the network.

If Pete gets in a speedo, that IS going to trump the tennis shorts. Don better avert his eyes from the blinding "whiteness" of Pete's "pins".

Jamm54, you mention some of my favorite movies on your list.

When I first read Wolfe's Right Stuff, I was surprised that the first American in space was an American named Ham, a chimpanzee. More like "Ham in a can".

I know us posters can get carried away with our personal, cultural or historical associations with this show - First American Astronaut-Ham-Jon Hamm, but it is half the fun of watching Mad Men.

Re: Robinson Crusoe on Mars - there was some unknown actor in the role of Friday and pre-Batman Adam West co-starred as the Commander. This may jog your memory but the Martian's spacecrafts were the same ones used in the original film 1950's version of HG Wells' War of the Worlds. I know the Stooges movie you are referring to, Curly Joe was the third stooge. Pretty lame.

looks like we're all anticipating a smackdown when Pete and Don go out West. It will be just like Pete to say something rude and Don to put him in his place.
Didn't a preview allude that Don told Pete he could make him have a permanent vacation?
Realy hope they tie up some loose ends.Maybe have Duck resign? Have Don move back home. Get Peggy a new hairstyle...........