Ep 9. Wee Small Hours

The Mad Men season 3 episode 9, titled Wee Small Hours, takes place in late 1963, shortly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The episode kicks off with Don Draper waking up in bed with Suzanne Farrell, a schoolteacher who he has been seeing secretly. Don heads to work for a meeting with a client, Conrad Hilton, who wants Sterling Cooper to create a campaign for his hotel chain. The tension between Don and Hilton is palpable, as Don struggles to please the demanding and unpredictable businessman.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Sterling Cooper employees are dealing with their own personal and professional challenges. Peggy, feeling overworked and undervalued, is passed up for a promotion and lashes out at her boss, Don. Joan, who is newly married, is struggling to adapt to her new role as a housewife, and becomes increasingly desperate to hang onto her job at Sterling Cooper. Pete, still reeling from the death of his father, is grappling with his own mortality and the direction of his life.

As the day wears on, the characters are forced to confront their fears and insecurities. Don's affair with Suzanne comes to a head when he realizes that he can't keep living a double life. Pete, feeling lost and alone, reaches out to an old flame for emotional support. Joan seeks validation from her male colleagues, but finds that they don't take her seriously as a married woman.

The episode culminates in a tense meeting between Don and Hilton, where Don finally breaks down and admits that he's overwhelmed by the pressure of his job and his personal life. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Don tells Hilton that he feels like he's drowning, and he doesn't know how to keep up with the fast-paced world around him.

The title of the episode, Wee Small Hours, is a reference to the Frank Sinatra song of the same name. The song plays at the end of the episode, as the characters are left to contemplate their choices and their place in the world. The lyrics of the song capture the melancholy and isolation that many of the characters are feeling, as they struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that seems increasingly chaotic and uncertain.

Overall, Mad Men season 3 episode 9 is a powerful and emotionally resonant episode, that explores the complex inner lives of its characters. The episode is a reminder that even in the midst of success and prosperity, there are always hidden anxieties and insecurities that can consume us if we're not careful.