We open with Don driving on the open road with Okie from Muskogee on the radio. He’s pulled over by a cop. The cop says, “You knew we would catch up with you,” and Don wakes up. he’s dreaming.
Pete is in Trudy’s house taking care of their daughter. Trudy comes in with her tennis friend, Sherry and Pete leaves. Trudy volunteers to make lunch.
Don talks with Sally who realizes that her dad is on a massive roadtrip. Don has already been in Wyoming and is in Kansas. Don asks her to sell her school equipment.
Betty Francis is in school looking for class. She trips on the steps and loses face.
Duck Phillips is back and he’s at McCann apparently head hunting for Don’s replacement. He sees Pete and he goes into his office. Duck asks Pete for a favor to meet with a Lear Jet exec to lobby for Duck. Pete reluctantly agrees.
Meanwhile, Don is still on the road and his car starts to act up. He pulls over.
Betty is in the infirmary and while she a hurt wrist, the doctor tells her to call Henry. Henry is pissed as apparently the doc gave her some bad news.
Don goes to a motel and where he’s stranded for the night. The manager’s wife offers him dinner. Don turns it down for now.
Pete sees the Lear Jet exec Duck wants him to meet for dinner. Pete finds out that the guy is looking for someone to hire. Pete turns him down, but says Duck will pick up the check.
Betty finds out she has cancer. She has 9 months to a year to live. Betty is stunned.
Don is in his room and gets a message from Betty from the male cleaning person. Don asks what’s in town. He asks the guy, Andy to help him buy some alcohol. Don goes to the pool to read. He spies a woman tanning herself at the pool. He finds that she’s married so he leaves her alone.
Duck calls Pete who tells him that he’s up for the Lear Jet job. Duck tells him to meet with the exec. Duck is pressing hard.
Henry wants Betty to undergo treatment. Betty is brushing her hair and is deciding how to tell her kids.
Andy knocks on the door and has the alcohol Don wants and coaxes extra money from him. Andy asks what Don does and Don tells him advertising.
Pete is back in Trudy’s house and puts their daughter to bed.
Don is watching the Flip Wilson Show in his hotel room. Now the TV goes out. The manager’s wife is trying to fix her typewriter. Don repairs it for her. She realizes Don is an Army vet and tells him that her husband wants him to join him for drinks later in the week.
Pete is eating a pie. He asks Trudy to join him for dinner with the Lear Jet exec and tries to sell her on sentimentality. Trudy isn’t buying it. Pete leaves again.
Sally goes to her room to find Henry inside. He tells her that Betty has lung cancer. Henry asks Sally to tell Betty to get treatment. Henry tells Sally it’s ok to cry, but he does instead. Sally is stunned and tries to comfort him. Henry doesn’t know what to do.
Don has his car back and wants to check out. The manager tries to convince Don to stay and fix his Coke machine.
Betty is home and Henry brings Sally home. Betty knows that Henry told her and is pissed. Sally tells the brothers Draper that she got in trouble at school.
Don goes to the military shindig which doubles as a fundraiser. Don donates $40 and gives up his rank when he served in Korea.
Pete has dinner with his brother and asks why he cheats on his wife. He tells Pete his wife likes that he’s desired by other women. Pete tells him he realized their dad cheated. His brother says he knew all along. His brother goes to call his wife.
Don is talking with some vets. He meets a fellow Korean War vet. Don doesn’t look at him at first because Don is fearful of being busted as Dick Whitman. When he finds the guy served later than him, Don is more friendly. A guy is dressed as a woman bursting out of a cake. Don is amused.
A drunk Duck goes to Pete’s hotel room. Duck tells him he got Lear Jet to up his offer to Pete. Pete is not convinced and throws Duck out.
Back at the VFW Hall, the vets tell stories. They toast Don and they realize he doesn’t talk all that much. Don says he didn’t want to join because he didn’t want to say much. One vet tells of his story being trapped in Europe during World War II and how they did what they had to do to come home. Don tells them that he killed his Commanding Officer in a firefight and he got to go home. Then they start singing “Over There.”
Sally is in bed. Betty comes into her room. She tells Sally she wanted to tell her. Betty says she knows it’s over. She said she saw her mother die and she won’t do that to Sally. Betty gives Sally instructions on what to do when she dies. And she tells Sally to go back to school so she won’t alarm her brothers.
The vets come into Don’s room and demands that he give them their money that Andy most likely stole. They beat him up with a phone book. Don tells them he didn’t steal the money, but they don’t believe him. They leave.
Pete wakes Trudy up late at night. Pete says he was offered a job and wants Trudy to move with him to Wichita. She says she won’t let Pete hurt her again. Pete says he’s always loved her. Pete says he won’t be stupid again. She says yes.
Don is icing his wounds in his room. A knock at the door and it’s Andy. Don tells Andy not to become a con man. Don tells him to get the money. He gets it and gives it to the hotel manager. Andy asks for a ride to the bus stop. Don begrudgingly takes him.
Betty sees Henry in their kitchen. She tells him she’s going to class. Sally opens her instructions from Betty. Sally reads Betty’s last wishes. Meanwhile, Betty struggles to go up the stairs. Sally cries.
Don is driving and pulls over to the side of the road. Don tells Andy the pink slip is in the glove box. He gets out and gives Andy his car. Andy drives off. Don waits at the bus stop.
Everyday by Buddy Holly takes us out.
Only one video for this episode. No Matt Weiner discussing the background, no Janie Bryant, not even the weekly cryptic promo! This video is the scene where Sally opens the letter from Betty with her final instructions. Heart-wrenching scene.
Just one more episode left. Where is Don Draper going? What’s going to happen to Pete and Trudy? What will Sally do? And what about the rest of the SCP staff who are apparently going their separate ways?
We’ll find out the answers next Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT in the series finale of Mad Men.
