'Mad Men' Recap: Blowing Smoke

“Blowing Smoke” found the gang at SCDP no closer to saving itself from bankruptcy – in fact, things are only getting worse. They’re going after scraps, getting promises of a follow-up meeting in six months and even starting layoffs. Yet an especially ballsy move by Don may end up saving them in the finale: an attack on big tobacco. This unexpected turn fit into a running theme this episode, which was kicking addiction versus giving into it. These addictions covered everything from heroin to relationships, and involved everyone from seasons-absent Midge to the increasingly rebellious Sally. Even those who kicked their additions had less than noble motivations, though. Because, lest you forget, this is Mad Men we’re talking about.

The episode began with the meeting Faye arranged between Don and a Heinz executive. Don makes a convincing sell, but the Heinz guy wants to wait six months. Frankly, he says, his division wants to make sure the agency survives that long. Don reluctantly accepts defeat and returns to the tense halls of SCDP.

Geoffrey Atherton, Faye’s boss, meets with the partners to suggest they stick with what they know best – tobacco – and pursue Philip Morris’s new women’s cigarette. The boys are more than a little excited to hear that Atherton has arranged an exclusive pitch meeting for them. Things may finally be looking up!

We then learn that Sally has been secretly meeting with Glen. Yes, Glen Bishop. Any time he pops up, the show acquires an air of tension – he’s never had a scene where he isn’t unsettling – but he actually seemed, dare I say, normal here. Sure, we all worried that Sally would accept the cigarettes he offered (and then the acid and/or date rape drugs we assumed he had waiting next) but she didn’t and the two actually had some friendly, deep conversation. Maybe these exceedingly messed-up kids are good for each other.

The second unexpected encounter of the night happened when Don ran into Midge on his way out of the office. Though Don puts up a fight – he might still feel guilty about cheating on Faye – he agrees to accompany Midge home. There, her awkward husband lets it slip that she tracked Don down, presumably for cash. See kids, there’s a reason Midge’s skinniness was mentioned back at the office, and it’s because – ding, ding, ding! – she’s a heroin junkie. Feeling sorry for her, and wanting to get the hell outta her house, Don buys one of Midge’s paintings and leaves.

At one of her sessions with Sally, Dr. Edna congratulates her on her progress. She says that, in light of it, they’ll only be meeting once a week. Sally accepts this without much of a reaction. But their casual discussion of Sally’s problems and cute Go Fish game makes it clear that Dr. Edna is the closest thing Sally has ever had – and likely ever will have – to a real mother. And thus ends the first of the week’s tragic Sally moments.

When Betty has her monthly meeting with Dr. Edna and learns of the reduced sessions, she freaks out. Sally’s not cured, she insists. Dr. Edna tries to say as tactfully as possible, “You’re the one that needs therapy, crazy,” but of course Betty won’t hear of that, so Dr. Edna simply keeps her on the books for next month.

The big Philip Morris pitch meeting is in place at SCDP, but the eager faces quickly fade when just Atherton walks through the door. They cancelled, he says, going with Leo Burnett instead. The crowd disperses, and the partners meet to discuss finances. Lane says he visited the bank and that they can extend their credit only if they put up collateral. That means $100,000 from Don, Roger and Cooper, as well as $50,000 from Lane and Pete. Staff cuts are also necessary. Pete has one of his regular bitchfests in which he complains that he doesn’t have $50,000 (he’s got a child after all) but Cooper reminds him that he’s contractually obligated. Pete makes similar complaints later to Don, who says he’s doing all he can.

Well, Trudy’s not convinced. After learning that the bank’s call about a loan application wasn’t a new house surprise (honestly Trudy, when does Pete ever do adorable stuff like that?), she flatly forbids him from giving any more money to SCDP. Their money is for little Tammy, and she isn’t going to grow up playing in Central Park like some proletariat, dammit!

Then comes Don’s giant middle finger to Lucky Strike, in the form of a full-page ad in the New York Times called “Why I’m Quitting Tobacco.” In this letter, he proclaims that SCDP will no longer do business with tobacco companies. Sample dialogue? “I realized here was my chance to be someone who can sleep at night, because I know that what I’m selling doesn’t kill my customers.” Ouch. Peggy sees it as Don taking her advice of “changing the conversation,” and Megan knows it’s about “he didn’t dump me, I dumped him,” but everyone else is pissed. Cooper even quits, insisting Don has become a monster.

Atherton also severs ties with SCDP in order to keep his cigarette accounts, meaning Faye and Don are no longer working together. But, as Faye points out, this also means they can date publicly.

Betty catches Sally on her third secret meeting with Glen and throws a fit. In addition to reprimanding Sally, she proposes they finally move out of the neighborhood. Henry is thrilled, but Sally runs off to sob into the lanyard Glen gave her (aaand uncomfortable feelings about where that relationship is going have resurfaced).

SCDP gets one bit of good news: the American Cancer Society wants them for an anti-smoking campaign. But the layoffs still need to happen. They’re about to commence when Pete tells Lane he doesn’t have the $50,000. Lane reveals that Don already paid for him, and Pete shares a silent acknowledgement with Don, as he ushers another employee into his office for a firing.

Well, that was a lot to get through, so rather than offer more speculation, I’ll just encourage everyone to tune in for the season finale next week. If this season – and past finales – aren’t indication enough, it’s going to be a doozy.