# Mad-Men: 5.04 "Signal 30" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907 "2012-04-16T00:34:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/41 "2012-04-16T16:16:09Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > What was the story behind Cosgrove and Peggy’s pact? I don’t remember. Perhaps it’s that he’s the father of her child. Her sister is raising him. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/42 "2012-04-16T16:17:38Z")
Pete is stuck between two eras, he grew up and in the testosterone fueled era that Don and Roger find themselves so comfortable in, but he also has somewhat more progressive sensibilities about certain things. So on the one hand he could care less about someone’s race or religion when it comes to business, he tolerates drinking at work but isn’t really a fan of the two martini lunch. On the other hand he longs for the kind of carefree-ness that in his mind he imagines Don has. For folks like Don and Roger they can meld their business a pleasure almost seamlessly (Don has literally done it), but Pete can’t, they are at odds. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/43 "2012-04-16T16:20:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Perhaps it’s that he’s [Cosgrove] the father of her [Peggy] child. Her sister is raising him. Pete Campbell is the father of Peggy’s child, not Cosgrove Cosgrove said to Peggy, “If I go somewhere else, you’re going with me.” That must be the pact, right? Don’t remember when it came about. ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/44 "2012-04-16T16:20:25Z")
> [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](#): > > Are you sure Pete isn’t that much older than high school girls? When the show started it was 1960 and now it is 1966. In the first season he was at least a year out of college, if not two or three, so he must be at least 27 and perhaps as old as 30. I took that into account, assuming Pete’s at least 27. All I’m saying is I thought Pete was _fantasizing_ about HS girls. In the show’s universe, no one else would know, and Pete would go on. As it’s a show, it could be used to show us one more step in the decline of Pete Campbell. But since he didn’t get the girl, it’s not so bad. As it wasn’t a fantasy, but was a real driver’s ed class, it served the same purpose: he hit on a HS girl and failed when “Handsome” showed up. Not to put too fine a point on it, but from a TV audience POV, I don’t think it’s so bad to show an adult character like Pete fantasizing about talking a HS girl into a date…because the end result is he failed in his attempt, so it’s not like he’s even fantasizing about being a pedophile–he could be missing his youth, knowing that while he’s growing up with more responsibility (wife, kids, house in the suburbs, you know, the American Dream), there’s a part of him that doesn’t want to grow up. Or conversely, a part of him that can assert his manhood to a younger, more naive person. Sort of like he did with the hooker, only with a HS girl, she’d be more genuinely impressed with his money, power and stature, rather than a hooker, who’s paid to be impressed. My bottom line is I was glad it wasn’t a dream or fantasy, because I thought that would’ve been weak. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/45 "2012-04-16T16:20:50Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Perhaps it’s that he’s the father of her child. Her sister is raising him. Huh? Pete is the father of Peggy’s child, not (Ken) Cosgrove. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/46 "2012-04-16T16:23:32Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Perhaps it’s that he’s the father of her child. Her sister is raising him. …Huh? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/47 "2012-04-16T16:29:06Z")
Also, Peggy’s sister is not raising her child. The child was placed for outside adoption. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/48 "2012-04-16T16:29:30Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Why do y’all think this is? He seems to be really in love with Megan. Frankly, I don’t see what he sees in her. I think the “let’s make a baby” line, though said drunk, expresses his serious, old-fashioned, husband/wife love for her. I wish I liked her more, but she seems air-headed, capricious, shallow, and manipulative (though sort of innocently, the way a wife of that time was expected to be). I mean, she’s no Joan, and I want someone of Joan’s depth for Don. But whatever. Clearly there is strong physical chemistry between Don and Megan–maybe that’s what he needs to feel anchored and secure, not intellectual/emotional bonding. > > Megan’s way of moving is all slithery, like a slinky made of Jell-o. And I wish she’d keep her lipstick within the boundaries of her lips. Also don’t like her hair. Hehe. 😛 I don’t dislike Megan as much as everyone else seems to. In fact I think she’s quite intelligent and capable. But they clearly have generational differences which will unravel the marriage eventually. And despite his best efforts, I don’t see Don staying faithful to her. Megan won’t put up with infidelity as long as Betty did. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/49 "2012-04-16T16:35:58Z")
The thing I think we’re all looking forward to is what event will be big enough to trigger Don to fall back into old patterns. Meaghan cheating or the destruction of S.C.D.P? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/50 "2012-04-16T16:37:51Z")
There was a line in there during the car park scene, where Megan uttered something about not being able to have a baby. It was glossed over by Don as “I don’t want to have a kid right now,” but I think it literally meant that Megan cannot have kids and she knows this. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/51 "2012-04-16T16:38:16Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Cosgrove said to Peggy, “If I go somewhere else, you’re going with me.” That must be the pact, right? Don’t remember when it came about. I don’t remember the pact prior to this episode and assumed it must have been a “between calendar pages” event when SCDP was floundering between last season and this one. If one got an in with a new firm, they’d try to bring along the others. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/52 "2012-04-16T16:48:54Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > There was a line in there during the car park scene, where Megan uttered something about not being able to have a baby. It was glossed over by Don as “I don’t want to have a kid right now,” but I think it literally meant that Megan cannot have kids and she knows this. I got the same vibe. From what I remember, Don said “Let’s make a baby” and Megan said “That’s impossible” (with a bit of an eyeroll). ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/53 "2012-04-16T17:47:11Z")
The chewing gum on the pubis – anyone else remember a movie or TV show where something similar happened ? I do, but I can’t place it. So, Pete never learning to drive – that means he’s never made out in a car. That explains a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/54 "2012-04-16T17:59:19Z")
> [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](#): > > …I don’t think it’s so bad to show an adult character like Pete fantasizing about talking a HS girl into a date…because the end result is he failed in his attempt, so it’s not like he’s even fantasizing about being a pedophile… The girl is talking about what college she’ll be attending, making Pete far from a pedophile. She may not be 18 but there are fewer years between them than Don & Megan. ---
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/55 "2012-04-16T18:18:11Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > There was a line in there during the car park scene, where Megan uttered something about not being able to have a baby. It was glossed over by Don as “I don’t want to have a kid right now,” but I think it literally meant that Megan cannot have kids and she knows this. I took it to mean “I do not want to have children at this time, and you know this very well.” ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/56 "2012-04-16T18:44:33Z")
> [@Pashnish\_Ewing](#): > > I got the same vibe. From what I remember, Don said “Let’s make a baby” and Megan said “That’s impossible” (with a bit of an eyeroll). Maybe she’s just on the pill. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/57 "2012-04-16T18:59:08Z")
I don’t know why, but I was absolutely fuming during the scene when Cynthia was spilling the beans about Ken’s writing on the side. In my mind, I was screaming at the TV, “Shut up! Shut up! You stupid fucking c\*\*ting moron! You’re going to fuck it all up!” What the fuck was wrong with her? Ken had obviously told her not to talk about it, but she just charged right ahead. What the fuck was going through her head? ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/58 "2012-04-16T19:07:55Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I don’t know why, but I was absolutely fuming during the scene when Cynthia was spilling the beans about Ken’s writing on the side. > > In my mind, I was screaming at the TV, “Shut up! Shut up! You stupid fucking c\*\*ting moron! You’re going to fuck it all up!” > > What the fuck was wrong with her? Ken had obviously told her not to talk about it, but she just charged right ahead. What the fuck was going through her head? I know! Wasn’t theirs the only issue-free marriage on the show? --if only for lack of screen time, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/59 "2012-04-16T19:11:06Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > I know! Wasn’t theirs the only issue-free marriage on the show? --if only for lack of screen time, I guess. I don’t know about issue-free, but the marriage seems not to be idiot-free, that’s for sure. She was so geared up to brag about Ken that she just couldn’t help herself and came this close to ending his writing career. Fuck, I wanted to slap my hand over her mouth and throw her out of the room. ---
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907/60 "2012-04-16T19:13:29Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I don’t know why, but I was absolutely fuming during the scene when Cynthia was spilling the beans about Ken’s writing on the side. > > In my mind, I was screaming at the TV, “Shut up! Shut up! You stupid fucking c\*\*ting moron! You’re going to fuck it all up!” > > What the fuck was wrong with her? Ken had obviously told her not to talk about it, but she just charged right ahead. What the fuck was going through her head? I missed the beginning of the episode. Are we shown Ken asking her not to talk about his writing? Anyway I can forgive the mistake. It was clearly made because she loves his writing so much and thinks everyone in the world should know her husband is a genius. Her enthusiam got the better of her and there are worse things. One thing I do wish is that Ken had responded to Roger’s veiled threats the way he did at the end of last season by pointing out how much of the firm’s business he had brought in. Admittedly that might ikely gotten him fired for pissing off Roger. Also she didn’t come close to ending his writing career as all he had to do was adopt a new pen name and not tell anyone at the office. If he sells a best-selling novel he’ll quit anyway as he works at the agency to support himself only. It is not his life or his dream the way it is Roger or Pete’s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-04-signal-30-open-spoilers/618907.md?page=4)