# Mad-Men 3.02, Love Among the Ruins (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427 "2009-08-23T22:00:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/21 "2009-08-24T17:54:44Z")
> [@HelloNinja](#): > > Our DVR cut off the very end of the episode, right when someone said “Mr. Draper” at the maypole scene. What did we miss? Don congratulated his little girl on her dancing. Back at home, he and Betty are asleep, then hear some noise in the kitchen. They get up to see that her dad is at the sink, pouring out all the alcohol. He’s in a panic because he thinks there’s going to be a raid and he’s advising if they have anything else, to flush it down the toilet (obviously, some sort of prohibition flashback). Don and Betty look disturbed at this development. Peggy comes back into the office the next day and sits down cool and measured so they can talk about their next project. I think that’s pretty much it… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/22 "2009-08-24T18:03:50Z")
When Don went back into the office the next morning, he stopped at Peggy’s office and stared at her for a moment. Was she wearing the same clothes as the previous day (making it clear that she didn’t sleep at home)? ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/23 "2009-08-24T19:19:10Z")
What was up with Don saying they’d been married ten years and Betty saying nine years? Did Don just forget, or is Betty not “counting” the time they were separated? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/24 "2009-08-24T20:14:29Z")
I thought Don said “10” and Betty said “11”. I took it to mean that Don’s marriage wasn’t as important to him as it should be. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/25 "2009-08-24T20:39:52Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I liked the maypole dance and the pretty teacher dancing slow-motion being caressed by Don Draper’s gaze. I’m wondering what if anything it portends - foreshadowing the social changes coming (barefoot hippies with flowers in their hair)? Nah, I suspect that he was having a moment of creativity in relation to Patio. The funny thing for me about the Maypole scene is that, having read all of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short stories, my mind was crying, “Witches! Witches! You’re all going to burn in HELLLLLL!!!” Didn’t quite mesh with the imagery. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/26 "2009-08-24T20:43:33Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > I thought Don said “10” and Betty said “11”. I took it to mean that Don’s marriage wasn’t as important to him as it should be. I’m pretty sure it was “9” and “10,” although I can’t remember who said what. I think Don said 10, Betty said 9. I just thought it was a typical guy-can’t-remember-how-long-he’s-been-married thing. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/27 "2009-08-24T21:23:03Z")
No, it was ten and eleven. I remember, because I did the math in my head. Don said ten, Betty said eleven. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/28 "2009-08-24T21:41:17Z")
> [@niblet\_head](#): > > No, it was ten and eleven. I remember, because I did the math in my head. Don said ten, Betty said eleven. OK, I’m not going quite crazy yet. I just watched it from the DVR, and Betty says nine years, Don says ten. Unless there’s two versions of this being broadcast. Or I have a hearing problem. ETA: [And a cite:](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=24&entry_id=46067) > [@](#): > > I think he was even a bit rattled when, at dinner with Lane and his wife, Don answers “10 years” and Betty answers “9 years” when Lane’s wife asks how long they’ve been together. Love the small moments. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/29 "2009-08-24T21:42:30Z")
No way! Ok, I’ve lost my mind. That is so weird… I was so certain… ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/30 "2009-08-24T21:49:53Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > When Don went back into the office the next morning, he stopped at Peggy’s office and stared at her for a moment. Was she wearing the same clothes as the previous day (making it clear that she didn’t sleep at home)? As she was leaving, he asked if she wanted to get breakfast. Peggy says no, it’s the middle of the night. I assume she went home and changed before going to work. **salinqmind** , your interpretation of Don brushing his fingers in the grass is confirmed by Weiner in the video extra – he says the scene was to show us that Don’s ready for change. He also said that Don taking control of the situation with Gene was because Don needed to have control of **something** that day, after the MSG failure. He also says Don wanted to do something nice for Betty, and that this is probably the nicest thing he’s ever done for her. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/31 "2009-08-24T22:49:39Z")
> [@niblet\_head](#): > > No way! Ok, I’ve lost my mind. That is so weird… I was so certain… Yea, but you also got a sandwich for Gloria. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/32 "2009-08-25T11:27:44Z")
Here’s my take, FWIW: both Don and Peggy exert power in their personal lives after being unable to exert power at work. Don has Madison Square Garden account taken away, so he goes home and bullies in brother in law; Peggy can’t get anyone to listen to her about Patio, so she goes out and seduces a nerd. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/33 "2009-08-25T14:19:19Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > A He also says Don wanted to do something nice for Betty, and that this is probably the nicest thing he’s ever done for her. …in a “road to hell is paved with good intentions” kind of way. I’m thinking this is bound to go rather spectacularly badly. This is a \*terrible \*thing to do to Betty. One would think that he’s noticed, even if she hasn’t, that she’s not much of a natural caregiver. Let’s hope Peggy keeps in mind that Joan’s mantrapping lines, while useful up to a point, can have some unintended results, most noticeably Joan’s oft-said remark of late, which is “My husband doesn’t let me…” ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/34 "2009-08-25T14:40:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m pretty sure it was “9” and “10,” although I can’t remember who said what. I think Don said 10, Betty said 9. I just thought it was a typical guy-can’t-remember-how-long-he’s-been-married thing. They weren’t asked how long they had been married; they were asked how long they had “been together.” Today, the answer would be something like “We moved in together Junior Year and married five years later because his company plan offered really good maternity insurance.” Back then, living together would have been rare outside of certain Bohemian circles. But Don may have considered that their “meaningful” relationship began before the wedding–he just gave the first answer that popped into his head. Not so for our prim & proper Nordic Betty… ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/35 "2009-08-25T16:21:36Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Yea, but you also got a sandwich for Gloria. It was well worth the day and a half it took me to get this :D. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/36 "2009-08-25T16:52:46Z")
Is the main reason that Betty didn’t want to go along with her brother’s plan the fact that, once he was living in the house, he’d pretty much get to keep it an its contents? She kept harping on how William wants the house, but at the same time, about how she is a bad daughter for not taking care of her father. So maybe it’s both concerns… but really, why would William and his wife living in the house mean that they would get to keep it? Surely Mr. Hofstadt has a will, and regardless of who is living there, if he leaves half of it to Betty, and half the contents, she will get what she feels is coming to her. So why not let her SIL take care of the senile old man in his own home? Am I missing something? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/37 "2009-08-25T17:08:35Z")
Last season, Betty noticed that the house was slowly getting ransacked in her absence including pictures of her mother and some vase-thingie which was promised to her (and her SIL gave back). I assume she figures her brother (who would have “nobly” sold his home) would pretty much claim squatter’s rights once her father passes. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427/38 "2009-08-25T17:11:09Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Last season, Betty noticed that the house was slowly getting ransacked in her absence including pictures of her mother and some vase-thingie which was promised to her (and her SIL gave back). I assume she figures her brother (who would have “nobly” sold his home) would pretty much claim squatter’s rights once her father passes. Can he do that? I mean, legally speaking, even if her brother was living there, if she is left half the house, then he’d have to buy out her half. She would still be entitled to the items in the house that she wanted. In fact, if her brother and SIL were living there, all the stuff would remain there rather than be absconded with to New Brunswick as it had been. It seems like Betty’s concerns are materialistic at heart, while she’s claiming they’re all about being a good daughter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-3-02-love-among-the-ruins-open-spoilers/507427.md?page=1)