In the Season 2 finale, in the shadow of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Betty learns she is pregnant, Don returns to the office - and his family, and Duck makes a play to become the president of Sterling Cooper. Peggy finally makes an important confession to Pete, and the office guys convince Lois to share details about the company's future. Write a prose poem to a potato chip and rewatch with us! View the full episode transcript of Mad Men Season 2 Episode 13: Meditations in an Emergency on our Mad Men C to Z website Mad Men C to Z S2:E13 Meditations in an Emergency Transcript Jenna: Hi, I'm Jenna. Steve: And I'm Steve. Welcome to all things Mad Men, from Chip and Dip to Zou Bisou. Jenna: There's so much to love about this amazing show and we're happy to connect to fans like us who discover new things with each re-watch. Steve: Be advised, while we aren't gratuitous with spoilers, they can pop up as we discuss character arcs through the final season. Let's get started with Mad Men, C to Z. Jenna: Welcome to season two, episode 13, Meditations in an Emergency. This episode was written by Matthew Weiner and Kater Gordon, and directed by Matthew Weiner. We start with Betty at the doctor's office. The office is part of the doctor's home and we know Betty has seen this doctor for a while, because she was referring to Dr. Aldridge in the first season when she was talking about seeing a psychiatrist. Steve: Yeah, and given the rough treatment doctors get from this time period in this series, the doctor seems on the sympathetic side of things relative to what we've seen so far. Although there is all the underlying sexism and doctor feeling like it's his place to advise Betty on how to live her life and what she can do. Betty's pregnant and it's a surprise pregnancy, and it's pretty clear that she doesn't welcome the news. The part I found interesting was that even in this pre Roe v. Wade era, it's clear that there are options for a woman like Betty who has means. And the doctor seems intent on discouraging her from aborting the pregnancy. Jenna: I agree when you noticed that he was kinder than some of the other doctors we've seen. But yes, he is still condescending at first. He thinks that she might be worried about her figure. He says, oh, you've been blessed with a really resilient figure. And she says, you don't understand. It's a bad time. And he says, when you tell your husband and your friends, you're going to start to feel better about the idea. She's not in the same situation as Peggy last season, but this pregnancy does threaten some of the agency she has claimed for herself in terms of setting boundaries with Don. Steve: Yeah. And his solution is the opposite of agency, right? It's not about what you think, Betty. Once you tell your husband and friends, then they'll decide that this is a good thing and change your mind so that you see it as a good thing. I also thought the line that abortions are for poor people and young people -- Jenna: He says that is an option for young girls who have no other option. Steve: Yeah. So, again, it's this judgmental expectation of the doctor, of what Betty's supposed to do here, and there's not a lot of thought about listening to her getting in behind her reasons for not wanting another pregnancy. Jenna: Also, so far in Mad Men, there is a 100% chance that a character finds out they're pregnant in the season finale, so we'll have to track whether that holds true in the future. Steve: Betty doesn't stick around for his examination. She collects her things and walks out of the office. It strikes me that Betty hasn't made a decision of what she's going to do. Jenna: Yes, when the doctor steps out for a minute and Betty leaves, it's a little bit like running away from bad news, but also maybe some progress in terms of her independence. We see that she got rid of the psychiatrist who she said was looking down her dress and told Don whatever it was she said in her sessions. And now she's not going to hang around to hear why this baby is good news for her. Before, I think Betty would have just stayed and put up with it. Do you think this is her claiming independence, or do you feel like this is her denying what's in her face? Steve: I do get a vibe that it's the new Betty who's not going to just passively take everybody else's guidance and direction. I kind of like seeing that spine from Betty of, you know, I don't want to stay here. I was happy her character walked away. Jenna: In the first episode of this season, all the office guys were fluttering around about Duck hiring younger creative associates and what that meant for their jobs. So in the finale, it's a nice callback to that to see them worried again as Ken hands Harry a binder with numbers from accounts, and they gossip about how maybe Don is away in California planning to open Sterling Cooper West. Steve: Yeah, it doesn't seem they have any clue of what's going on, so they're casting about for any possibility. And it's al
