MAD MEN: “Souvenir”
Photo Credit: Carin Baer/ AMC.
Read on for my recap and review of Mad Men 3×08, aired Sunday, October 4th, 2009:
There were two main plot-lines in this episode–one revolving around Betty, and the other around Pete. All the other characters were either included in one of these stories, or left out of the episode entirely. While the two plots did not intersect, they dealt with parallel themes of escapism. In Betty’s case, reality can’t measure up to the perfection of her Roman getaway, while Pete learns the hard way that reality doesn’t stop, even if one’s wife is away on vacation. Both learn that they can’t escape from reality for long, and both find this realization unpleasant.
At the beginning of the episode, Betty continues to work on the reservoir project, and is busy making phone calls and doing paperwork. While this is going on, Don gets a call from Conrad Hilton (who has become rather a high maintenance pain in the ass), and is “asked” to go to Rome on a two day trip, that week. Betty is a bit resentful, as Don has been travelling a lot lately (plus he totally hijacked her paperwork to make notes on). Don tries to placate her, pointing out, “There’s nothing stopping you from coming with me.” Betty, in turn, points out the obvious: “I guess our two month old isn’t an issue.” Betty does get the best lines. Don doesn’t belabor the issue, and goes off to bed.
The next morning Betty wakes up and gets dressed in an elegant navy and cream outfit. As she puts on her lipstick, there’s a beautifully subtle shot of Sally looking admiringly at her stylish mother, which will later result in her kissing a boy. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself, so back to Betty. It turns out that Betty is decked out so fabulously in preparation for a hearing. The local council is ready to pass right over the reservoir issue, but Francine interrupts to remind them of the reservoir situation. The disrespectful treatment of the Junior League women at the hearing was very frustrating. At the last minute, the ladies are “saved” by a white knight—Henry Francis, who recommended that Betty buy a fainting couch. Sigh. He introduces himself to the council as Governor Rockefeller’s director of whatever, and is immediately lent an attentive ear. He has a request for further study, and it is accepted. It is so sad that they need a man to get anything done. Francine admires Betty for getting the guy to come, and the council decides in the ladies’ favor. In response to their excitement at victory, one of the council members actually says, “Calm down ladies.” My blood pressure certainly rose in that scene, and I’m getting mad just thinking about it.
Betty, Francine, and Henry walk out to the parking lot, and the scene is rather hilarious due to Francine’s knowing glances. Why is she so excited for her friend to be flirting with this old guy who’s not Don? Beats me. Henry offers the following pearl of wisdom: “There’s a saying in politics. If you don’t have power, delay.” Francine heads off, so Betty and Henry are left by their lonesome. He offers her coffee, but realizes that no place is open. She says she needs to be going, and thanks him. In case anyone cares, Betty is driving her father’s Cadillac, and Henry really seems to like it. He also seems to really like Betty: “I think you’ll find that I put my heart into things when something’s important to me. Or someone.” Uh oh. He talks about how it makes him happy that she’s happy, and I start to feel dread. Then, he leans in to kiss Betty, and she kisses him back. Oh, Betty. She drives off, before it can go any further.
When Betty gets home, she is in a great mood, probably from all the attention. She does love for men to be in love with her. When Don asks why she’s so happy, she does a charming “We won, we won, we won!” dance. Seriously adorable. However, she is clearly feeling guilty about the illicit kiss and unsure what to do about it. To add insult to injury, Betty uses Henry’s quote about power on Don. Oh, Betty. The guilt eventually gets to her, and she wakes up in bed later and takes Don up on the Rome offer.
Cut to Betty and Don arriving in Rome. They both complain about the smell, and my response is “that’s what you get when you go to Italy in August.” Seriously, don’t plan a trip to Italy in August. It doesn’t smell in Fall or Spring, I can tell you that. When they get to the hotel, Betty gets to use her fabulous Italian, and the bellhop compliments her. I’m liking Betty more and more during the Rome trip. I should also point out that Betty’s traveling outfit is adorable: a pink suit with white purse and gloves. I wish I could be half as put-together as Betty Draper. Sigh. Conrad Hilton calls, and he and Betty talk. The Drapers take a nap before dealing with him, however.
When Betty wakes up, she immediately makes an appointment at a salon. The result of said appointment is pictured above. (Update: Via an AMC blog, I recently learned that the hair stylist on Mad Men, who created Betty’s impossibly fabulous do, is named Lucia Mace. Read my About page if you don’t know why I think that’s awesome.) Betty is transformed in Italy, and gains a level of comfort and confidence that she never has at home. Wearing her fabulous up-do, she sits down at an outdoor café. Two Italian men are eager to light her cigarette, and get into her good graces. She scolds them for bothering her, but in a rather flirtatious manner. Don walks up, and sits at the next table. Don and Betty pretend that they’ve never met before, but it is clear that Betty is choosing “the ugly American” over the Italian guys. The Italians concede defeat and leave regretfully.
Conrad Hilton approaches and kisses Betty’s hand. He tells Don that he’s insanely lucky. Too bad Don takes Betty for granted whenever he’s not with her. Sigh. When the Drapers return to their hotel room, they are both happy and in love, and in the moment. This is perhaps the happiest we’ve ever seen Betty. It is really a magical night for her, and perhaps a hint of how she wishes her life had gone. I think this episode goes a long way towards understanding Betty’s dissatisfaction with her life.
The next morning, Don and Betty are awoken by a ringing phone. Don answers the phone, and lies about being woken up. Betty convinces him to beg off from Hilton’s breakfast invite, as she wants to have breakfast together. They’re all lovey-dovey, but he says that he has to get up. He tells her to order something, as Hilton wants a full report. Again, Betty looks really happy. This will not last.
Cut to the Drapers returning home. Betty is happy to see her baby, and Carla informs her of the Sally’s kissing and ensuing shenanigans. While Betty and Don were having a fabulous time in Rome, Sally kissed Ernie Hanson, and then Bobby teased her, so she hit him repeatedly. This is the first factor that begins to bring Betty down from her vacation high.
The next morning, Betty is wearing what looks like a Pucci dress, with a headband—how very 1960s of her. Betty confronts Sally about her temper, and Sally apologizes to Bobby. Unlike real life little brothers, Bobby is extremely forgiving. Don leans over to light Betty’s cigarette, as he learned some things about cigarette lighting in Italy. This is the second straw. I guess her husband lighting her cigarette for her in her kitchen is just not glamorous enough.
Betty looks at fainting couch and calls Sally down. She tells her that Ernie is a nice boy, but that she doesn’t want her to go around kissing boys. She also offers the following advice: “And you don’t kiss boys, boys kiss you.” Oh, Betty. She explains to her daughter that first kisses are important, and should be thought about carefully. Sally interjects, “But I already did it, it’s over.” Betty explains, “You’re going to have a lot of first kisses.” She then goes into a whole speech about kisses, and how they are part of getting to know someone, blah blah blah. It is clear that this topic is bringing the whole Henry fiasco back to her mind, and she is getting increasingly anxious and sad. Here’s the third straw. Now that she’s back from vacation, she has to face the disaster of her life.
Later, Francine comes by, and asks about Rome. She also says that the reservoir is possibly back on. She hints that this could be an excuse for Betty to get help from “high places.” Thankfully, Betty says that she’s done with that, rather forcefully. Don comes in, and Francine says her goodbyes—but not before making a snide comment about how tired they must be. Betty is not happy with her friend. Fifth, and last, nail in the coffin. Betty’s happiness is dead.
When the Drapers go upstairs and prepare for bed, Don is still in a romantic mood and tries to reach out to Betty. She will have none of it, turns him down. Don tries to raise her spirits by telling her to check her pillow. He bought her a coliseum pendant for her bracelet, but Betty barely thanks Don. On my first viewing of the episode, I did not understand her anger, but I think I grasp it somewhat better now. Betty is pissed, and Don is confused. That is life on this show.
While all that Roman Holiday awesomeness was going on, Pete was getting himself into trouble, as usual. At the start of the episode, we learn that Trudy is gone for August, as New York ladies are wont to do, so Pete is on his own for a while. Pete manages to piss me off right away by the following comment regarding Hildy: “Why is it that a man on his own is something to feel sorry for, when she’s really the one to feel sorry for?” Shut up, Pete.
Pete goes home to an empty apartment, takes off his shirt, puts on music, and sits on the couch. The next morning he continues this rebellious behavior by watching cartoons while he eats his cereal. As he takes out the trash, he hears crying. A woman is sobbing, and trying to throw out or rescue a stained party dress. Her name is Gretel, and she’s the German au pair of one of Pete’s neighbors. Pete is kind to her, which almost creeps me out more than when he’s a jerk. I’m right to worry about the creepiness potential of this encounter, as we shall see later. Anyway, it turns out that Gretel borrowed the dress for a party, and spilled wine on it. Pete: “Wait, hold on. I don’t think you’re thinking clearly.” His bright idea is for her to blame it on the little girl she looks after. Shut up, Pete. Luckily, Gretel is a better person than that, and refuses to do that. He asks for the dress, and tells her that he’ll see what he can do: “And people say New York’s not friendly. I’m not promising anything. I’ll do my best.” If Pete is “friendly,” I can do without friendly.
Pete goes to store which sells that brand of dress, and tries to get some help from the saleslady. She is a bit hesitant and suspicious, so he demands to speak to the manager. Saleslady: “Of the entire store?” Pete: “Of the republic of dresses. Anyone who can help me, because you’re falling short.” Despite my hatred of Pete, I loved that line. Next thing we know, Joan shows up. Both she and Pete are shocked and a bit uncomfortable at the meeting. It seems that Joan is “helping out,” so that she can get first pick of the dresses. Mmmm hmmm. We know the truth, but Joan does a good job of keeping her help. Since she’s Joan, the most capable of human beings, she is able to take care of Pete’s problem right away. While she’s writing out his exchange slip, there is an uncomfortable series of pleasantries. Joan pretends that she’s doing well, and Pete fills her in on the office: “Money penny hasn’t self destructed yet but …” He tells her to be discreet, and she agrees, of course: “This never happened.” I would also like to note that she’s wearing purple, which looks fabulous on her. Also, she is wearing her hair down, in a short do, with bangs. She looks gorgeous, as always. After Pete leaves, she leans down on the table, and shows her true emotions for a moment. Poor Joan. How long before she’s back at Sterling Cooper? Or is she gone for good? Joan really needs her own spin-off.
Pete goes to the au pair and delivers the new dress. He is quite proud of himself, and she is very thankful. He wants to celebrate, but she tells him that she has a boyfriend. She gives him a kiss on the cheek, and he leaves.
Pete goes back to his apartment and pours a drink (or several, as his later condition indicates). I’m not sure how much time goes by, but sometime that night he goes back to poor Gretel’s doorstep. What a stalker. He says that he went through a lot of trouble to solve her dress problem, and that he at least deserves to see it on her. Ick. Instead of slamming the door in his face, the poor girl invites the snake in. When he gets inside her room, he kisses her. She seems to go along with it, but not happily. Pete totally abused his position of authority and the instability of her job standing here, and this is such terrible behavior that I hate Pete more than I already did (which was A LOT). Gretel can’t really refuse, or he would tell her employers and she might be deported. Also, he (and society) has persuaded her to think that she owes him something, which she so does not. This is just bad all around.
The next day, the Gretel’s boss, the father of the children she takes care of, comes to see Pete. Pete tries to play dumb, but the other guy is onto him. Apparently, he has had to deal with a lot of crying that morning (Greta is clearly traumatized), and he blames Pete. He doesn’t seem to really care about the morality of what Pete did, or Gretel’s feelings, but instead is concerned with how this will negatively impact him. He tells Pete that it’s hard to find a nanny whom his wife doesn’t hate, and Pete better stay away from Gretel. He further advises that Pete not be an idiot, and stay out of the building dating pool all together. Pete is completely shamed.
Later, Trudy comes home, and when they are on their way up to the apartment, they are unlucky enough to share an elevator with Gretel. Both Pete and Gretel are uncomfortable and guilty, but Trudy is oblivious and asks about the kids. Stupid Pete. When they reach the apartment, Trudy wants to be close to Pete, but Pete is overwhelmed with guilt and self-loathing, and acts noticeably odd. Trudy picks up on it, and finally realizes that he had an affair. Pete’s silence all but admits his guilt.
That night, Pete comes home to a home-cooked meal. Trudy is still upset, but avoids the subject with talk of her shopping excursion. Pete interrupts: “I don’t want you to go away anymore, without me.” She pauses for a moment, and then she actually says, “Good. I won’t.” Oh Trudy, you could do so much better. She asks about work and he tells her about a contraption that can shoot water balloons. This confirms my belief that the boys at Sterling Cooper are all 7 years old, emotionally.
What did you think of the episode? Comment below.
