Don and Betty are attending the Broadway show Fiorello! when they run into Jim Hobart, the head of rival ad agency McCann Erickson. Jim attempts to woo Don away from Sterling Cooper and even invites Betty to model for their Coca-Cola campaign. Betty is excited to relive her modelling days but Don is opposed to the idea. While Betty is out at the shoot, the Drapers' dog Polly attacks a neighbor's pet pigeon. The neighbor threatens to shoot Polly, which frightens Sally.
Meanwhile, Pete and Harry come up with an idea to help Richard Nixon's presidential campaign. They buy up ad space in swing states for Secor Laxatives, therefore locking out competitor John F. Kennedy. Bert and Roger are impressed with the idea. Also at the office, Peggy's recent weight gain has caused her to rip her skirt. Joan lends her an outfit and when Peggy returns it, Joan tries to lecture Peggy about making herself attractive to men. Peggy replies she is more concerned with her advertising career and the two trade barbs about each others' looks and goals. When Peggy leaves for the day, Ken cracks a rude joke about Peggy's weight gain, and Pete sucker punches him in response. The two get into a fight which is broken up by Paul, who forces them to make up.
Jim Hobart continues to send Don gifts and he also includes photos from Betty's Coca-Cola photoshoot. Don goes to Roger and says he will not leave Sterling Cooper in exchange for a pay raise and no contract. Don informs Jim, who then issues orders to fire Betty while she is still on set. That evening, Betty does not tell Don that she was fired and claims that she decided to focus on being a wife and mother instead. Don is pleased and tells Betty that all he cares is that she is a good mother to their kids.
The next day, a frustrated and disappointed Betty takes Bobby's BB gun and begins shooting at the neighbor's pigeons.
The episode contains examples of:
- Abusive Parents: Betty reveals that her mother was like this to her growing up, calling Betty a prostitute after the latter became a model. Despite this, Betty claims to miss her.
- And Then What?: Betty was raised to believe that one should maintain their beauty in the hopes of attracting a husband and settling down as a mother. Now that she has these things, Betty wonders what she's supposed to do, other than sit around and smoke.
- Angry Guard Dog: Polly sees a neighbor's pigeon flying close by and makes a grab for, stunning the neighbor, as well as Sally and Bobby.
- Backhanded Compliment: Upon hearing news of Peter and Harry's laxative plan, Roger commends them in a way that only he can - by insulting them.Roger: I didn't think you had it in you, and I mean that.
- Bait-and-Switch: Bert and Roger's response to Harry and Pete's maneuvering in a way that initially appears astonished and angry, but gradually shifts to appreciation.
- Big Eater: Therapy reveals that Betty was like this growing up.
- Disproportionate Retribution: The Draper neighbor, Ross, threatens to shoot Polly if she invades his yard again. Later, Betty starts shooting Ross' birds when she finds out that she won't be able to model any further.
- Driven by Envy: Sal theorizes that female voters will share a sense of resentment against Jackie Kennedy.Sal: It's like their better-looking sister married a handsome Senator and now she's going to live in the White House? I'm practically jealous.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Pete has one when he realizes that Nixon and Kennedy are competing for TV commercial air time. He proposes that the best way to combat this is to make big buys for Secor Laxatives in undecided states.
- Executive Suite Fight: The office brawl between Ken and Pete has them rolling over a desk, at one point.
- Failed Dramatic Exit: Pete, high on getting praise from Bert, Roger, and Don, stands up and prepares to leave. Don reminds him that they still haven't finished their meeting, forcing Pete to sit back down.
- Foreshadowing: In hindsight, many a show-spanning Story Arc was introduced or foreshadowed here.
- The reason Betty was given for being fired from the Coca-Cola campaign by McCann was that the brand wanted an Audrey Hepburn where Betty is more of a Grace Kelly. By the end of season 4, Don has divorced Betty and has married Megan, a French-speaking brunette with (Canadian ancestry but) "European" character more reminiscent of Hepburn.
- McCann-Erickson makes its first appearance in the series, trying to lure Don Draper over with the Coca-Cola account. In Season 7, McCann-Erickson buys out Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. The account dangled before Don is ... Coca-Cola.
- In the last scene of the series, Don's big breakthrough is a Coca-Cola ad.
- The last scene of the episode is Betty wearing a pure white negligee with a cigarette in her mouth, shooting a BB gun at birds so they would fly into the sky, while the song "My Special Angel" plays in the background. By the end of the series Betty, nicknamed Birdie, is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer (from smoking) and is well on her way to dying i.e. becoming an "angel."
- More subtle, but Joan and Peggy have a confrontation where Peggy realizes that while Joan may want to be helpful, she just doesn't get what Peggy wants from her career. Joan's offer of guidance just doesn't connect. At the end of the series, Peggy rejects Joan's offer to join her in forming a new production company. While there is a great deal of mutual respect between the two by that point and their relationship is much better than it is in season 1, Joan's offer doesn't quite jive with what Peggy needs for her career.
- Funny Background Event: The Pete/Ken fight briefly becomes this when the camera cuts to Roger and Don having a nonchalant conversation.
- Innocuously Important Episode: McCann Erickson and the lure of Coca-Cola, both central to the show's endgame, are first introduced here. See also the Foreshadowing entry.
- Of Course I'm Not a Virgin: Peggy delivers this news to Joan, which appears to either surprise her or force her to think up her next words carefully.
- Stock Footage: Of a commercial of Jackie Kennedy speaking Spanish.
- Later on, Pete and Don see footage of a Kennedy campaign commercial, showcasing the outgoing President Eisenhower's apparent lack of confidence in Nixon, his VP.
- Talk to the Fist: Pete sucker punches Ken after he insults Peggy by calling her a "lobster".
- Tranquil Fury: Pete's fury at Ken for the "lobster" comment is conveyed quite well, despite him never making a sound during the entire fight (or even the apology afterwards).
- Trying Not to Cry: Betty, as an assistant helps her take off her modeling jewellery for the final time.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Don and Roger are making their way out of the office during the fight between Ken and Pete, and appear not to take any notice of it.
- Unwanted Assistance: Peggy realizes that Joan's prodding has, in fact, been an attempt to help her develop.
