Mad Men 1.9: "I was a model, you know"

Don and Betty meet Jim Hobarth at a party. (Someone mentions that the Israeli tourism campaign was a success.) Hobarth is from advertising giant McCann-Erickson. He wants Don to come work at his place.

Jim Hobarth complements Betty on her appearance and mentions that he needs a model for a Coca-Cola campaign. Betty tells him she's modeled before.

Later, Betty tells neighbor Francine about her modeling career, during which she had a platonic relationship with a designer.

Don gets a gift of golf clubs from Hobarth and a note, "Join the big time."

Betty tells her psychiatrist about her modeling. It's how she met Don. She was upset she couldn't keep the fur coat from a gig, so he bought it for her. They moved out to the suburbs and had kids, and now she feels old. Her mother always fretted about Betty's weight and appearance, but she also disapproved of modeling and likened it to prostitution.

The doctor observes that Betty is angry at her mother. Betty is annoyed that after being silent all the time and not listening to her, he's now provoking her. Anyway, she found a man like her mother told her to - now what?

Jackie Kennedy does a campaign ad in Spanish. Nixon still hasn't officially asked Sterling-Cooper to represent him. They're doing this work pro-bono. The madmen hate Kennedy.

Betty wants to try out for the Coke campaign. Don reluctantly agrees.

Roger knows about Hobarth sending the golf clubs. He warns Don that he'd hate working there - he has so much at Sterling-Cooper; why start over? He's taking it personally.

Peggy's skirt tears when she leans over. She tries to hide the split seam by tying a sweater around her waist. Joan notices. She also asks Peggy nosy questions about Don. Peggy is not responsive. Joan makes a snotty remark about Peggy's copywriting aspirations and says Peggy shouldn't eat so much. Peggy suddenly realizes that Joan thinks she's being helpful.

The guys are talking. They think Don might be making $30,000 a year. Paul notices that Peggy is getting fat.

Betty tries out for the Coke ad. She's wearing one of her designer's dresses. No surprise, she gets the job.

The madmen are talking about their laxative client. Pete suggests that they should buy all the ad time for their laxative in a key market so that Kennedy's people can't get any air time there.

Polly (the Drapers' dog) attacks the neighbor's pigeons. The neighbor threatens to shoot the dog if she does it again. Sally has a bad dream about it.

The guys are obsequious with Don. Cooper is thrilled about the laxative ads strategy. Pete becomes very cocky; Don shoots him down. In turn, Pete is mean to his secretary Hilda.

Don looks at Betty's test photos.

Roger is eating Jell-O. He offers Don a 50% raise with no contract. Don likes the way they do business, so if he leaves them, it won't be for advertising.

Don is also angry about the way Hobarth is using Betty. He turns down the job offer.

Betty is fired from the Coke job. They'll let her keep the dress and the pictures, but not the jewelry.

For some reason I don't remember, Pete and Ken brawl. (I think Ken suggested that Peggy was having sex with Don to get the writing job, but I don't remember for sure.) Nobody knows that Pete's defending his secret girlfriend's honor (though clearly he reserves the right to diss her on his own time).

Betty tells Don they wanted her to do more modeling, but she doesn't want to work. She'd rather take care of her family. Don says he wishes he'd had a mother like her.

The next day, Betty's bored. The neighbor's pigeons annoy her, so she goes outside and shoots at them.