Ep 6. Waldorf Stories

In Mad Men season 4 episode 6, titled "Waldorf Stories," Don Draper finds himself on a business trip to Los Angeles with his new wife Megan (Jessica Paré), who is hoping to pursue an acting career. The episode focuses primarily on Don and Megan's trip, which is punctuated by flashbacks to Don's previous visits to Los Angeles.

As the episode opens, Don and Megan are settling into their hotel room, with Megan already making plans to attend a pool party thrown by a friend from her acting class. Don, however, is preoccupied with work and spends most of their first day on the trip in meetings with potential clients.

Throughout the episode, viewers are given glimpses of Don's previous trips to Los Angeles. In one flashback, he is seen holed up in a hotel room with a young woman, drinking and doing drugs. In another, he is partying with a group of models who are all vying for his attention.

As Don and Megan navigate the ups and downs of their own trip, they are both forced to confront the reality of their relationship. Megan is disappointed when she realizes that Don has no interest in attending the pool party with her, and instead spends the evening drinking at a fancy restaurant with a potential client. Meanwhile, Don is plagued by memories of his own past infidelities.

As the episode draws to a close, Don and Megan have a frank conversation about their relationship, with Megan telling Don that she wants him to be proud of her. Don, for his part, seems uninterested in Megan's aspirations but is still willing to support her.

Overall, "Waldorf Stories" is a thoughtful, character-driven episode that provides insights into both Don and Megan's personalities and their relationship. With its juxtaposition of past and present, it offers a richly textured portrait of two people struggling to forge a connection in the face of their own complicated histories.