‘Mad Men’ Recap: Sally Catches Don With Sylvia, Bob Benson Comes On To Pete

Mad Men began last night with Betty (January Jones) and Sally (Kiernan Shipka) having an argument about the model U.N. In an effort to get her mother on board, Sally offers that she stay with Don (Jon Hamm) and Megan (Jessica Pare) in their apartment in the city while she participates, which ends up having some big implications later on in the episode.

When Don gets home from work, he’s greeted not only by Megan, but also Sylvia Rosen (Linda Cardellini) and her and Arnold’s (Brian Markinson) son Mitchell. Mitchell is apparently due to be called to fight in the Vietnam War at any time, after returning his draft card as a statement of protest. The Rosens are seeking any assistance they can get from the Drapers to keep their son out of the war. Don and Arnold head to the bar later to discuss Mitchell’s options and the unpopular war at large.

Peggy (Elisabeth Moss), meanwhile, spent a boozy business dinner with Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) and Teddy Chaough (Kevin Rahm) flirting shamelessly with both of them. In a moment of vulnerability, Pete asks Peggy if she hates him, to which she replies that she doesn’t and that she knows him. Pete also relays to Peggy that Ted is in love with her. Later on, back in her rat-infested apartment, Peggy phones Rizzo (Jay R. Ferguson) and offers some sexual favors if he comes by. However, since he’s answering the phone while in bed with another woman, she gets shut down.

Pete had to deal with the romantic entanglements of his mother, as well as some advances that came his way during the episode. He confronted his mother about her at-home caregiver and lover, Manolo, and was met with some harsh words: “You were a sad, little boy and you're a sad, little man." Not everyone sees Pete that way, certainly not Bob Benson (James Wolk), who seems to want more than a friendship with the ad firm partner.

Hard at work trying to help his former mistress’s son, Don tries to get the assistance of some of the men over at Chevy. When Ted finds out about this, he lays into Don about it. But when Don shows a little bit of humility, Ted, who has a friend in the Air National Guard, agrees to help him out. Of course the favor comes at a price though, and Ted asks that Don gives in on the Ocean Spray pitch. When Don calls the Rosens to let them know he’s saved Mitchell from the draft, Sylvia picks up. Since Don was made all the more enraptured with her after she broke off their affair, he can’t resist the gratitude sex she offers him.

As Don and Sylvia are in bed together, an unknowingly Sally breaks into the Rosens apartment to recover a love letter to Mitchell that he was never meant to see. And before she can leave with the note, she sees her married father having sex with her crush’s mother. She runs out of the apartment and away from Don before he can catch up with her. Devastated at being caught by his daughter in the less than heroic act, Don proceeds to get drunk at a bar. When he gets back to the apartment, Sally is at the table with her friend and Megan. It gets even more awkward when the Rosens come over and are effusive with their gratitude towards Don.

In the episodes closing minutes, Sally boils over with disappointment in her father and locks herself behind her bedroom door. Instead of owning up to his indiscretions, he lies, treating Sally like the naïve girl she no longer is, telling her he was “comforting” Mrs. Rosen. Knowing her father won’t be honest, knowing that her image of him is forever tainted; she ends the conversation by simply saying “okay.”

Mad Men airs Sundays on AMC at 10/9c

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