Martin Luther King has just marched on Washington. Things are changing faster and faster, in the country and on Madison Avenue.
Connie's demands are wearing on Don. His work with Hilton is keeping away from the rest of the agency, the hours are impossible, and Connie's eccentricities have cost him the account, meaning months of work was all for nothing. Don finally gives in to his feelings for Suzanne Farrell.
Lee Garner Jr. of Lucky Strike wants Sal and Sal refuses. Garner calls Harry Crane to fire Sal. Harry keeps it to himself, thinking it will blow over, but Garner has a fit and Roger gives Don the responsibility of letting him go. On a personal level, Don is somewhat conflicted, but as Lucky Strike is Sterling Cooper's biggest client, they have no choice. Sal drowns his sorrows in alcohol and strange men.
Betty's flirtation with Henry Francis gets serious. When Carla catches them together, they cover for it by throwing a fundraiser for Nelson Rockefeller's floundering presidential campaign. Of course, when the fundraiser actually happens, Henry doesn't show up. She goes to his office and confronts him, and they are left at a stalemate.
The episode concludes with news of the bombing in Birmingham, Alabama.
This episode contains examples of:
- Call-Back: Roger makes one to Guy's unfortunate fate.Roger: We've had two clients in one week leave here angry. Important clients. That what you want this place to be known for? That and some guy losing his foot in a lawnmower?
- Deliberate Values Dissonance: Despite Don's relative tolerance upon finding out that Sal is gay, he doesn't understand why Sal didn't just give in to Lee's request, and seems to disbelieve that nothing happened.Don: You people...
- Hope Spot: The entire episode.
- Innocently Insensitive: Blonde, privileged Betty tells Carla that it's "too soon" for Civil Rights. Carla gives her a look.
- Earlier the ladies, even more sympathetic women in the crowd, talk about the March on Washington and kid about how backwards the South is in front of an uncomfortable Carla.
- Put on a Bus: Poor Sal.
- Tempting Fate: One of Betty's neighbors invokes this.Joyce: I voted for Kennedy. I'll probably vote for him again.
