Don keeping secrets is like the sun coming up every day. Initially I thought that Betty would not want more conversation about Sally's grief....right in the middle of labor pains. He never wastes his breath on trivia (even if it is about poor Sally).

Betty asked Don who had called *after" she told Don "it's time" [to go to the hospital]. So I don't think it was inappropriate for Don to withhold the fact that the teached phoned.

Additionally, even if Don had said that it was the teacher calling, I don't think that the content of the telephone conversation was appropriate to tell Betty at that point. The call ended up being more about the teacher herself than Betty - that the teacher lost a parent at the age of 8 and related to Sally losing a grandparent, and didn't mean to upset Betty, that she didn't know why she was calling and was embarrassing herself.

what was that whole scene about? the teacher drunk, her top unbuttoned, bra strap showing. was she coming on to don? how would she know he would answer the phone? it seems like even our attention is diverted away from poor sally. do the writers want us to care about sally? or titillate us with the idea of don becoming the teacher pet?

He didn't tell Betty who it was because Don reads this dopey little teacher like a book and we ALL know where it's going. He knows why she really phoned and he's simply put her on hold.

Maybe Don realized that it was time for the hospital and did not want to irritate Betty. We all know she's been tense lately.

I felt like the teacher got on Don's nerves.

Hi all!
I think the new teacher is becoming a substitute mom for Sally. During the scene with Don and Sally in the kitchen, Sally would quote things her teacher had said. Don then said something to her like "then it must be true".

I few opinions I have about the teacher.
According to Sally, she seemed to know a lot about chickens and eggs. Did she come from a farm type backround like Don?
She shared with Don during the drunk phone call that one of her parents died when she was young.
So did Don.
I won't even mention the drinking...to obvious!

I don't think we've seen the last of her.

Well if it's June we probably have seen the last of Miss Farrell as a teacher. Kids don't usually carry over a teacher from one year to the next unless it's art or music. Classroom teachers generally taught a particular year back then. I never had the same teacher two years running.

I didn't sense a two-way vibe between Don and the teacher. He was bemused by her, surprised by her call but I got no "let's discuss 'homework'" indication from him. Her, on the other hand - she's interested, drinking but interested. I don't think she'd risk losing her job though. She's just very young and lonely and in a couple of years will become Mrs Somebody or other over the summer.

Miss Farrell, who had a " few" before she could get the courage to call the Drapers figured if Bets answered it was ok. If Don did, then she would kinda use Sally as an excuse to hear Don's voice while she undressed herself....

Miss Farrell,was probably the original version of the so-called" Booty Call"

Miss Farrell is also a dance teacher so it's entirely possible she'd be back.

Even in the '60's, teachers had to be careful about what they did and said in class because if an affected child brought a negative story home to her parents... parents back to teacher or parents to principal to teacher. More headaches for teacher.

In this case, she was afraid she'd crossed the line with the parents of one of her students. She'd been drinking and it probably occurred to her, after the disclosure of Grandpa Gene's passing, why she was so affected. So she called, apparently for either parent. She got Don after the phone rang enough times and Betty hadn't picked up, in spite of a phone being next to their bed upstairs.

Don probably isn't interested as, being Sally's teacher, she's too close to home but probably appreciated the possibility. As far as his response, "No one," he realized Betty had more important things on her mind at that moment and probably wouldn't care.

Ritt: Don has standards and wouldn't be interested in some low paid teacher who were viewed as servants then, just like nurses.
All of Don's gf's were richer or more accomplished women.Menchen owned a department store, the girl in California was rich, his beatnik gf has some sort of business. Only the stewardess was working class and that was just a one night booty call who didn't even know his actual name.

Don,doesn't want the " Wine & Dine". So Ms. Farrell ,fits the bill."Wham Bam Thank You Mam."

ritt1 i don't know but i think teachers were more respected then than now. people my age say they would have been afraid to tell their parents of trouble with a teacher. if parents were called into school for behavioral issues it would have been the kid that the parents would be displeased with. of course i mean in general.
please i like to hear from teachers

Don was running his fingers through the grass as she was dancing at the Maypole.

--do the writers want us to care about sally? or titillate us with the idea of don becoming the teacher pet?--

Cute. I think teach was coming on to Don and Don neglected to tell Betty who called, because he knew it. Come on...we all know Don can't help himself. He's a...well...ladies man. Of course that means a garden tool.

No redial feature or caller id!

In most cases Don does the picking with the exception of the stewardess and can we be certain that something happened between them after the fire? No, we can't be. So although he may have been flattered he can HAVE anyone he wants. And he never plays in his own backyard.

The writers of this series definitely have a grasp on the idea if innuendo. I definitely foresee the teacher having flirtatious visions of grandeur where Don is concerned.

"Just when I think I was out, they pulled me back in" Don is trying to be a good husband, but unlike in the past where he pursued, he is now being pursued, by Shelly and now Ms Ferrell, its like trying to get pregnant, it sometimes happens when you quit trying.

Don has yet to have a relationship with someone who is part of his "family" life. Just like he doesn't sleep with the secretaries.

His women have always been ladies he's worked with on an equal level. I don't know if he'd put his family life in danger by having an affair with his daughter's teacher.

I also didn't get that he was particularly receptive, although I didn't figure him with Bobby the first time she hit on his either.

If anybody likes this blog please hit the recommended button so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle....Thanks

Auburn Annie - Sometimes elementary teachers keep a class of kids for two years, transitioning to the next grade level with them. A former co-worker of mine would teach 3rd grade one year then go to 4th grade with the same class the next year, then go back to 3rd grade with another group. It gave the kids some consistency, and she liked how the change of pace kept her on her toes.

jlh - I'd have to agree with you. These days parents seem more likely to back up their kids than consider the teacher's POV. Many parents make excuses for their kids' behavior, don't want to discipline them at home, and enable bad habits. As a result there's a lot of kids who have never really had to face the consequences of their actions and think if they aren't caught or if they can negotiate out of the consequences afterward, it's okay to break a rule. Very frustrating for teachers. End rant. :)

It is possible, if this show goes on into the future, that Don and Peggy could end up having a magnificent love affair.

It would be the first esoteric soap opera!

C'mon we know how Don thinks. He's very people savvy especially when it comes to women. He definitely knew the teacher was flirting with him and he was flattered. Did you see the smile on his face? I think he was attracted to her during the MayDay dance. Don always falls for a woman ho has what Betty lacks. He's attracted to her snese of maternity that Bety fails to demonstrate. She never initiates any hugs or kisses with her chldren. I noticed that she coolly accepts Sally hugs when she returns from the hospital. I think Betty really doesn't enjoy being a mother.

The Don/Teacher aspect started in the end of the previous episode. You saw the look on Don's face as he was eyeing the Teacher as she was going around the maypole. The talk with the Teacher after Betty had to step out was rather "tense" as Don & Teacher bantered on & now with the phone call, you know what's coming up soon. Yes Don is a lady's man & who wouldn't mind a man like him (as long as you're not Betty).

linzfizz " Don has yet to have a relationship with someone who is part of his "family" life. Just like he doesn't sleep with the secretaries."

thanks for the above. now i understand a little better why he's so peeved with roger.

Weiner said on Charlie Rose: "...part of what we get to do on the show is show private moments, show people be duplicitous in a very non-violent, non-exciting way, but it is the drama of our lives. 'You know, "Where were you? Why are you home late?" "Well, I had to stop by the store –" No, I was on the phone talking to some woman at work. Well, I was just talking to her, but I still told you that I was at the market."

But I think he said no one simply because he didn't want to get into it.

If he bangs the teacher, -- won't that be Really Boring?

I think the teacher called because she was sorry about bringing up the death, because of how her own father's death affected her. There are other impulses besides sexual ones.

Your absolutely right" soundman" there are other impulses, but with Don it has been sexual. Bangs the teacher boring? I should say not!

Soundman,when Don said," no one" he also was anxious. Walked in the house calling for Bets,the phone ringing looking upstairs wondering where everyone was then its the teacher on the phone his heart racing Bets coming down the stairs.Lots of drama in like 20 secs...

@Christopher: I agree with you...that the teacher was drinking, thinking about Don and made up an excuse to call. It's that "high school" thing. If Betty had answered she would have hung up ( one of the benefits of no Caller ID).

I think Don was being considerate; his wife just said "it's time." She sure didn't need to be thinking of the incident that obviously was upsetting to her.
Why would the teacher think Don would answer the phone? Even the scene made it clear Don does not answer the phone (his sarcastic "I'll get it." when he realized nobody was getting it). I felt the teacher was genuinely bothered by the fact that she had inadvertently upset Betty, and the drink in her hand was her glass of courage and perhaps a bit of her own coping since the incident brought up her own upset feelings of grief.

Speaking of the teacher/parent conference---was it not strange that Don sat down and left Betty standing without a chair to even sit on??? Perhaps it is he who is so enamored (he's usually a gentlemen with Betty)...

Heh. Did anyone else add on, when Mrs. Farrell said to Don(drink in her hand, hair disheveled, blouse coming undone, bra strap slipped down): "I don't know why I'm calling" with an add-on of, "I just wanted to tell you I'm incredibly attracted to you, and I'd like to jump your bones." :-)
Don was fantasizing about Mrs.Farrell at the maypole picnic, as you may remember, when he saw her, the camera slowed and he ran his fingers through the grass.
She lost a parent when she was a child, as did Don, and Sally also talks about her with affection. We all know how much Don loves Sally, and well, I hate to say it, but Don may want to schedule more meetings with Mrs. Farrell, to make sure Sally is handling herself better at school. I strongly sense that an affair between those two is coming this season.
I respectfully disagree with another MADdict, who said that Don wouldn't see women below his station. He would, absolutely. Just because he isn't messing around at the office with his secretaries hardly means he wouldn't sleep with a teacher or two. He would. Heck, he slept with Shelly, the stewardess, in episode 1. He's Don Draper, and he can't help himself. Betty even said that to him, about Bobbie Barrett, when she confronted him last season, about his affair.
Don is also looking for someone that he can connect with, as he hasn't had anyone since Rachel. He's a conflicted man, of dubious intentions.
I loved this last episode. Just brilliant.
I think that this season grows more and more exciting, and Matt Weiner, and his creative team, are bona fide geniuses.