Mad Men: 5G

November 2nd, 2008

Season 1, Episode 5

Synopsis

Don an Betty come home late after a party where Don has won an advertising award. The next day, the office is buzzing about Ken’s short story being published in the Atlantic Monthly. Pete and Paul feel slightly inferior to learn this. At a meeting, ideas are brainstormed for the Liberty Capitol Savings bank. Don suggests naming accounts “executive” for added prestige.

Midge calls Don, requesting for an impromptu meeting. She asks him to pull his hair. Peggy accidentally overhears this exchange.

That evening, Pete reveals he has written his own short story, and asks Trudy contact her publishing friend Charlie and pull some strings. Trudy was once engaged to Charlie.

The next day, someone named Adam Whitman arrives at the office, asking to see Don. He is Don’s little brother, thought Don had died in the war, and refers to Don as “Dick Whitman.” Don nervously returns to work, obviously disturbed by the encounter.

Don takes Adam to lunch. He mentions seeing Don in his army uniform through a window a long time ago. Don reveals they had two different mothers. Adam says his mom died of stomach cancer, to which Don replies, “good.”

Trudy visits Charlie’s office. He’s more interested in her than Pete’s story, saying he can “keep a secret.” She isn’t interested.

Betty and the kids arrive at the office for a family portrait. Peggy assumes Don is still with Midge, and asks Joan for advice. Joan tells Peggy to claim the missed appointment was her fault, and says she’ll keep Don’s affair a secret.

Don awkwardly makes conversation with Adam, then abruptly leaves, saying their meeting never happened.

Peggy makes small talk with Betty until Don returns, claiming he was at the printer. Later, Betty complains to Francine that the photographs turned out badly.

Paul presents the “private” executive account idea to Liberty Capitol Savings, which is received favorably. Don opens an envelope containing a photograph of him in an army uniform with Adam as a young boy. It also contains Adam’s room number.

Paul approaches Ken, who is bragging a bit to the office girls, and tears the story out of his copy of the magazine. He then apologizes, saying he didn’t know he was competing with Ken, to which Ken says, “you lost.”

Joan tells Peggy she should cover for Don and relax, saying that’s just “how these men are.”

That evening over dinner, Trudy tells Pete that Charlie can publish his story in Boy’s Life magazine. Pete isn’t too thrilled by the caliber of that magazine. Trudy hints she wasn’t willing to do what had to be done to get a better publication.

After dinner, Don sneaks off to his study, burns the photograph, and calls Adam to arrange a meeting. He puts something from his desk inside a black bag.

Don arrives at Adam’s apartment, which is actually a hotel room. Adam is happy to see him and fixes Don a drink. Don opens the black bag and takes out a pile of cash — $5,000. He asks Adam to take it in exchange for leaving him alone. Adam is sad but agrees.

Don returns home. Betty wonders if they can buy their own summer house. Don replies they don’t have that kind of money.

Thoughts

Style

The Atlantic Monthly is a very old literary magazine that published authors like Ralph Waldo Emerson. Boy’s Life is a magazine for much younger Boy Scouts.

Then And Now

• Look the other way: Peggy and Joan handle the knowledge of Don’s affair in an antiquated manner — keeping it a secret. Joan has an outdated, passive concept of “men” — this is just the way they are, and not much can be done to change their behavior.
• The value of money: How much was $5,000 worth in 1960? Using this calculator at Dollar Times, Don’s savings would be the equivalent of $36,020.48 today. Don’s cash stash is likely a result of his poor background and surviving the Great Depression.

Advertising

The bank executive says the “executive, private” concept is already in practice by many businessmen, who want to hide “work expenses” such as spending money on hotels, entertainment, phone calls, and restaurants from their wives.

Developments

A secretary congratulates Don on a newspaper article mentioning his award, to which he says, “No one reads that.” His younger brother Adam does, however. By the way Don treats him, he essentially is a “nobody.”

Upon first viewing, I thought Don put a gun in the bag. Thankfully, it was merely a hefty bribe. While he wants to “get rid” of Adam, he doesn’t go that far.

Don continues to be extremely secretive of his past and this episode shows what lengths he’ll go through to cover it up. We met his younger brother Adam, and learn he and “Dick” came from a very poor background. Adam is financially challenged based on his humble hotel room apartment and lifting a bottle of gin from beneath a couch.

This episode also featured a theme of extramarital affairs. Betty is still in the dark about Don’s dalliance with Midge. While Peggy is bothered by Don’s affair, Joan tells her to lighten up, that this is normal behavior for men at this office. Trudy’s old boyfriend suggests an affair. The “private” bank account is perfect for these professional men.

Next Episode: Babylon
Previous Episode: New Amsterdam