African-American protesters carry signs on the street in support of equal opportunity employment. Several Y&R employees lean out the office window and drop bags of water on them. Afterward, the protesters stride into Y&R -- a journalist in tow -- and catch the perpetrators red-handed.
At his new apartment, Don cooks breakfast for Sally, Bobby and Gene. Sally gives Don an early birthday present on behalf of the kids: a shaving brush. Megan walks in and greets the family. Later, Don drops the kids off at Betty’s home but stays in the car.
In her bedroom, Joan rubs cream on her baby Kevin’s bottom. When her mother Gail Holloway tries to help, Joan snaps but later apologizes: Joan says she hasn’t slept and feels cooped up. Gail takes Kevin for a walk so that Joan can nap.
Peggy, Stan and Ken are in Pete’s office to discuss the upcoming Heinz presentation. Everything is ready except for the coupon copy, which is Megan’s job. (Megan and Don are both late.) When Don arrives, Roger shows him and Pete a newspaper article shaming Y&R for the water bomb stunt. Don suggests running a mock help wanted ad: “Sterling Cooper, an equal opportunity employer.”
Megan confides to Peggy that she’s throwing Don a surprise 40th birthday party. Peggy is skeptical, but Megan promises the party will inspire everyone to have sex. Peggy reviews the guest list, eliminating Duck Phillips.
Meanwhile, Joan’s mother tries to dissuade Joan from going back to work. “Your husband’s a doctor,” she argues. Joan insists that SCDP needs her, and that she does not want to break her promise to go back.
Pete arrives at a lunch meeting with Mohawk Airlines to find Roger already there sharing drinks. Miffed at Roger for hijacking his meeting, Pete urges Roger to return to the office because of an “emergency.”
In the conference room, Peggy’s pitch for a ballet of beans fails to impress the Heinz executives. Don arrives and tells Heinz they will devise a new pitch. Peggy complains that he didn’t fight hard enough for her idea.
Back at the office, Pete is overcome with anger over Roger’s antics and accidentally walks into the pillar in his office. As his nose bleeds, he angrily tells his secretary Clara that Roger only flirts with her so that he can spy on Pete’s calendar and poach potential clients.
On the evening of the surprise party, Don and Megan arrive at their front door to find late arrivals Roger and Jane bickering. Don feigns surprise at the room full of partygoers, and Roger confesses to ruining the moment.
As the guests become tipsy, Megan presents her birthday gift: She sings a French song, “Zou Bisou Bisou,” and dances provocatively. The guests clap and whistle.
After the party, Don flops onto the bed fully clothed. Megan, still wide awake, asks if he enjoyed the party. He tells her not to waste money on such things. Unfazed, she teases and kisses him and wants to talk about the party. Don declines and insists on going to sleep, so Megan leaves the room.
The next morning, Lane finds a men’s wallet in a cab. He inspects it and is struck by a photo of a young woman named Delores.
At home, Joan argues with her mother, who shows Joan an SCDP help wanted ad which she claims is evidence that they intend to replace Joan.
Megan and Don arrive at the office, barely speaking. When Roger sees Don, he imitates Megan’s performance to Don’s chagrin.
Don, Roger, Lane and Bert squeeze into Pete’s office, where Pete announces that Mohawk is coming in for a meeting. He points out how unimpressive his office looks and demands to have Roger’s office. Roger refuses.
In the office kitchen, Harry and Stan gush about Megan’s risqué dance. Megan, standing behind Harry, overhears some particularly lewd comments from Harry then leaves.
Lane telephones the wallet’s owner but reaches the owner’s girlfriend, Delores. Lane flirts with her on the phone.
Roger summons Harry to ask him to trade offices with Pete. Harry reluctantly agrees once Roger offers $1,100. Later, Joan stops by SCDP with baby Kevin in tow.
Megan rants to Peggy about the culture at SCDP. “You’re all so cynical,” she says. “You don’t smile. You smirk.” She hints that Don didn’t appreciate the surprise party. Peggy is apologetic. Megan goes home early.
In Lane’s office, Joan tearfully asks if they’re planning to replace her. Lane assures her that she’s indispensable.
When Pete learns about the office trade, he rants to Harry that he deserves Roger’s office. Meanwhile, Peggy stops by Don’s office to apologize for making a snide remark at the party. When she mentions that Megan went home early, Don too leaves for the day.
The wallet-owner stops by SCDP. Lane secretly removes Delores’s photo before returning it.
At the apartment, Don asks Megan why she left work. She takes off her robe then angrily cleans the apartment in her underclothes. Don grabs her arm. “Go sit over there,” she huffs. “All you get to do is watch.” When he persists, she passionately kisses him back and they make love.
At the office, Pete asks Clara to pencil in a fake Coca-Cola meeting for 6AM the following morning on Staten Island to trick Roger.
Back at Don’s apartment, Megan complains that she’s disliked at the office and wonders if she ought to stop working there. Don tells her he doesn’t care about work, he cares about her.
Early the next morning, Roger grouses to Jane that he has to go to Staten Island. Meanwhile, Pete plays cards on his morning commute, smiling at the prank.
At the office, Don and Megan enter the reception area to find a large group of black women and men. They are responding to the help wanted ad, unaware it was a joke. Don, Roger, Pete, Lane and Bert brainstorm a resolution. The receptionist interrupts with an African artifact sent from Y&R. When she confirms that the applicants saw the gift, Lane moves to the reception area to collect resumes, from the women only, for secretary positions.
Source: AMC.com
Written by MichaelDeBoey on Oct 29, 2015