Hi Don'scute!
I am not sure if he knew about the baby. He knew enough to find her in the mental health ward of the hospital. I do remember him saying her mother told him she had TB and was in quarantine. Obviously, he didn't buy that story. HIPPA laws didn't exist then, so he may have found out the truth.
Of course, I still think she imagined the whole thing...I'm sure I'll be proved wrong eventually!

Any other Maddicts know the answer?

oh, she imagined having the baby, or Don's visit? ...bear with me! Cause when he says it "it'll shock you,etc. I immediately thought of his hiding his past life and all that..so he knows what he's talking about. I like that he cares about her in this scene, if it's real?real in TV!

I think Don knew she was in the hospital for mental problems, but he may not have known about the baby.

I don't think Peggy imagined it, 60s child, but unlike some posters I'm not going to rake you over the coals for saying so, becaise I think Anna is all in Don's imagination. I'm sure most would disagree with that.

Mambo Deb…do you mean like “ In a Beautiful Mind” with Russell Crowe? Interesting.

I meant "A Beautiful Mind"

Sort of, sab4ever. Basically, I think she started as a maifestation of his guilt and now she's a coping mechanism. I did a thread "Is Anna a Figment of Don's Imagination?" during the off-season with all my reasons why I thought that. I'd love it if you'd give it a look if you didn't see it.

I think he didn't know about the baby because she was in the mental ward and Peggy never looked pregnant-she gained weight all over. I remember many here, including myself, feeling tricked because she never looked pregnant. Don was just referring to her "nervous breakdown"(as it was called then) when he said how it would be like it never happened. He wouldn't say that so confidently about giving birth because that was certainly not his experience. I think Peggy's mother told Don(her boss) the truth about her actually being in the mental ward because she was worried and hoped he could snap her out of her it. I don't think her mother would have ever told anyone about the baby. No one in the office thought that Peggy was the type to even have sex to begin with. They thought she was lonely and chubby. Her mother's story about her being sick was easily accepted.

Of course, just my opinion and imaginings. ;)

I think that's an interesting theory (Anna being all in Don's mind), Mambo, and thought so right when I first read that thread you posted on it....it will be fun to see if it pans out! It's as believable as anything else in that crazy mixed-up mess that is DD/DW, no?

What was it some poster called him on here ages ago?....a "hot mess"...well that sure says it all! lol

I agree with those that think Don was really at the mental hospital to see Peggy, but that he didn't necessarily know about the baby she'd just had/given away...just that Peggy was there for "mental" reasons....probably all the details that old bat of a mother of hers would share with him.

MidcenturyMod...great imaginings! I think your analysis is spot on... and very well put. I was never quite sure whether Don knew about the baby, but now think you are quite right.

Mambo Deb, I just read your Is Anna a figment of Don's imagination, I agree there's something about this Anna, and you say, ...can't decide whether this beatific smile, or like Norman Bates..! (abit paraphrased) I laughed but I agree Anna is other-worldly or Too Good to be true - being so kind and nice to a guy who takes over your husband's identity and is getting away with it. And as you point out, (and I just watched it) she's introduced as if only Don can see her there in the used car office - right on.
Also, thank you for the answers re Don know about P's baby? kinds seems we're not totally supposed to know, but wonder, and they say there's going to be alot happening this season. I'm very long winded this morning too much coffee and all excited that it's Sunday and Mad Men is on TONIGHT!

Never said, but I bet he knows. Back in those days, in a hospital situation, after identifying himself, a boss could find out everything about one of his employees simply by asking, "Why is she here?" He probably knows she rejected the existence of the baby (which is why she's in the nut ward) and tells her to move forward.

Not to be confused with a doctor's confidentiality (which as we've seen with Betty's shrink) wasn't as water-tight as it is now.

As for Anna, okay, so where was he after he left the hotel? He certainly wasn't staying there. Joy and company are the ones who seemed to have the flavor of lotus and la-la land. Sorry, Anna's about as real as it gets. That's where he sent the book in S2 Ep1 and then picks it up from Anna's bookcase in Hall of the Mountain King.

I agree Ritt, Don was MIA from SC and he didn't go with Joy. Nah, Anna is real.

Don't think Peggy was dreaming. Don was told she had TB or something and he didn't buy it. Hospitals were not so much into privacy back then. Somewhere between the parking lot and her room Don got the whole story. He told her to "move forward" So Don.

Going back, I see I said basically the same thing as 60's child. I've got to slow down!