Megan learns that her character in To Have And To Hold will be flung into a romance with another character, requiring her to film the kind of activities that typically come before a Sexy Discretion Shot. Don is supportive, controlling whatever jealousy he may feel. To help soothe his feelings, Arlene, the star of the soap, and her husband Mel, the head writer, invite Don and Megan out for dinner... and then offer a veiled invitation to group sex. The Drapers decline.
Ken Cosgrove, Accounts, visits Harry Crane with a problem: Dow Chemical is being smeared in the newspapers. (It's got something to do, Ken points out sarcastically, with dropping napalm on Vietnamese children.) However, while Ken came merely to vent, Harry has a solution: he arranges an hour-long television event starring Joe Namath
and other celebrities, crammed full of wholesome entertainment: "Brought to you by Dow Chemical, family products for the American family." The commission for this TV special alone turns out to be $23,000, and it's quite a coup for Harry.
Joan is visited by Kate, her friend from high school, who currently works for Mary Kay but, inspired by stories of Joan's partnership, is now bucking for a higher position at Avon. She begs Joan for a night on the town, wanting to see how her glamorous friend lives... only to wake up the next morning to a hangover and a subdued Joan, who points out that her partnership doesn't stop everyone else at SCDP from treating her like a secretary. This is underlined when Joan learns that Scarlett, Harry Crane's secretary, committed time card fraud with the help of Don's secretary Dawn. She fires Scarlett, only to be overruled by Harry. Harry then storms into a partners' meeting, questioning why Joan has a seat at the table while he does not. While he makes a strong (and financially meaningful) point about his contributions, it becomes clear that nobody likes him anymore. (Roger and Bert eventually fob him off with the entire commission of the TV special, but deny him the partnership.) Joan, meanwhile, gives Dawn additional responsibilities when she comes to apologize, of her own volition, for being Scarlett's accomplice, implying that Joan intends to find bigger fish to fry.
Don, Pete and Stan are hard at work on "Project K," their classified pitch to Heinz Ketchup. They rent Timmy a hotel room and pitch their idea, which is quite good... But when they emerge, they find Peggy and Ted Chaough waiting without, ready to make their competing pitch. Don listens at the door as Peggy unveils a much stronger ad campaign; that said, the account ultimately goes to a third competitor, J. Walter Thompson. (Stan is annoyed that information he told Peggy, in confidence, was used against him; Peggy has the grace to look embarrassed.) To top it off, Cosgrove storms into the bar and mentions that the Heinz Baked Beans rep has caught wind of this whole excursion and has dumped SCDP, effective immediately. "There's nothing better than being known for your loyalty," Ken reminds them.
Finally, Don visits Megan on the set for the first time, where it becomes clear that his Green-Eyed Monster is much less under control than he implied. He compares Megan's actions to adultery. Then he goes to sleep with Sylvia Rosen.
This episode contains examples of:
- All for Nothing:
- SCDP pitching an ad to Heinz Ketchup behind the backs of Heinz Baked Beans ultimately fails, and they get fired for it.
- Peggy also betrays Stan's trust and CGC similarly fails in landing the account.
- Callback: Peggy's pitch is reminiscent of Don's saying of "If you don't like what is being said, then change the conversation," which he first said in Season 3.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?:
- Jerkass he may be, but Harry does have a point that he contributes heavily to the firm. A source of friction between him and Joan here is his perception that he deserves to be promoted to partnership and she doesn't.
- When Kate expresses some envy about Joan's life, Joan explains that her title hasn't stopped everyone in the office from treating her like a secretary rather than a partner.
- Et Tu, Brute?: Both Don and Stan have this reaction when they see CGC pitching for Heinz Ketchup:
- Peggy's pitch is reminiscent of Don's saying of "If you don't like what is being said, then change the conversation."
- Stan is furious when he realizes Peggy's been telling Ted work related things that he said in confidence.
- Flipping the Bird: Stan angrily does this to Peggy after they both lose the pitch to Heinz Ketchup.
- The Friend Nobody Likes: Harry has turned into this. Nearly everyone in the office despises him, and it's heavily implied that that's the reason he's not being promoted.
- Green-Eyed Monster: A very mild version. Kate and Joan both confess that they're envious of each other's lives.
- Hypocrite: Don accuses Megan of enjoying her love scene on the show too much, and equates it to having an affair. He's been having a real affair with Sylia since the start of the season.
- Polyamory: Ted and Arlene, head-writer and co-star in the soap opera To Have and to Hold that Megan stars in, have been happily married for 18 years. They also happily invite other people into threesomes or orgies. Don and Megan gently turn them down.
- Promotion, Not Punishment: Played with. Joan puts Dawn in charge of the time-sheets and supply closet and expressly tells Dawn that it's a punishment. Dawn sees it as a promotion.
- Shout-Out: A subtle one to 30 Rock. At the bar after the Heinz pitches, Ted orders an "Old Spanish" — a cocktail that has hitherto only existed in the 30 Rock universe. Which nicely returns 30 Rock's shout-out to Mad Men, which occurred when Liz Lemon's mom reminisced about working for Sterling Cooper.
- Take That!: When Harry tries to convince Bert and Roger of how important he is to the firm:Harry: Bert, you know how important I am to this company. You were me.Bert Cooper (visibly disgusted): I was different from you, Mr. Crane, in every way.
- Title Drop: The title of this episode is the name of Megan's soap.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Ken angrily tells off Pete and Don that their pitching to Heinz Ketchup cost the firm Heinz Baked Beans.Ken: Don't bother. He doesn't even want to give us 90 days. There's nothing better than being known for your loyalty.
