Recap – Mad Men 3.12 "The Grown Ups"

Roger makes his toast, saying nice things about Mona, Margaret and Brooks.  "The adults, we all wanted to be strong for you, but, your spirit, your love, your hope, is giving us strength.  And I promise you now, that if you can make it through a day like today, marriage is a cakewalk.  To many years of happiness," he says.  This is a far sight from the insensitivity he showed at the Derby Day party.  Don asks Betty to dance, and she says she doesn't know, but he leads her on the dance floor.  Don tries to get Betty to focus on him, but her eyes are wandering.  He thinks it's something else, and pulls her in close.  "Hey.  Everything is going to be fine," he says.  "How do you know that?" she replies, her eyes piercing into his.  He doesn't have an answer so he kisses her instead.  She still doesn't seem convinced.

Henry's daughter asks him why he keeps looking at Betty, but he pleads ignorance.

Betty leaves the restroom, and walks out to find Don and Henry, just feet apart, involved in separate conversations.  They both only have eyes for her.  She looks at them both, but leaves with Don.  Henry glances at her as she walks away.

Roger dumps a drunken Jane into their bed.  He yells that he's going to make a phone call as Jane snores.  He calls Joan.  They have another very compelling, very honest conversation.  He says he just had to talk to her because no one else is saying the right thing.  "My God, you're really upset," she says, not unkindly.  "What's that about?" he replies, as surprised as she is.  "Because there's nothing funny about this," she answers somberly.  "Well, hang in there, Red."  "You too."

Betty, looking pale, watches TV and smokes as Don makes himself a drink.  They're bring Oswald out.  She screams in horror as he's shot on live TV.  Don rushes into the room as she shouts, "What is going on!?"  Don tries to hold her, but she brushes him off and walks away.  Sally walks into the room, asking what happened.  "Nothing," Don replies.  Sally's face says she knows he's a liar.

Sometime later.  Betty comes down in her coat, and tells Don, who was asleep on the couch, she's going on a drive to clear her head.  He tries to come with, but she refuses.

A parking lot.  Two cars park side by side.  Henry gets into Betty's car.  "Where does your husband think you are?"  "I don't care.  He's been lying to me for years."  She asks him what is going on, and he reitterates it will be OK.  "I wish I could believe you.  I can't believe anything right now," she replies.  He transitions the conversation to them, and says he wants to marry her.  "I don't know what to say," Betty says, nearly as surprised as we are.  He tells her she doesn't have to say anything, and they kiss.  Then it gets weird, and Henry says he wishes he could take her to see her favorite movie right now.  "Singing in the Rain," she offers.  Then she smiles and he gets out of the car.  It's a little too J.D. Salinger for me.