It's morning, and Don must leave for the office, so he tells Fay to lock up when she goes. Surprised, Fay asks him if he’s sure he trusts her with his things. Zipping up his pants, Don says, “I’m taking everything interesting with me.’’

Peggy greets him as he rolls in to the office. She needs his signature on some documents, but Don tells her she’ll have to wait as he ducks inside for a nap. Still very much alive for now, Miss Blankenship witnesses the exchange and snaps, “It’s a business of sadists and masochists. You know which one you are.”

Across the office, Roger finds out that Joan’s husband is bound for Vietnam. “You’ll be okay,” he tells her.

“People love to say that,’’ she responds, and her voice reveals a crack in her typically seamless demeanor.

Roger suggests that the two meet elsewhere for some relief, but Joan is insulted by his broader insinuations. Later that night there’s a rap at her door. Roger has sent an apology: two spa ladies to perform a mani-pedi in the comfort of Joan’s home.

While Joan’s being pampered, Peggy meets up at a bar with Joyce who has secretly arranged for their mutual friend Abe to show up. He’s smitten with Peggy who’s both flattered and intrigued by this Brooklynite who prickles her conscience. In the course of their politicized banter, he informs her that her client Fillmore Auto is refusing to hire blacks in the South.

“If it’s true it’s not good for business,’’ Peggy says. then she adds unsympathetically, “most of the things Negroes can’t do, I can’t do either. And nobody seems to care.”

”All right Peggy,’’ Abe mocks, “We’ll have a civil rights march for women.” It’s enough to break Peggy’s temporary spell and she leaves him in a huff.

As it happens, SCPD is working on a new campaign for the Fillmore family which wants the chain to be “where the pros shop” and “where every man’s welcome.” As Don explains the company can’t be both, his secretary interrupts to whisper he’s got an unexpected visitor: his daughter, Sally, caught riding between two train cars to avoid the conductor.

Don is shocked and outraged, and thanks the stranger who delivered his wayward daughter to him. “Men never know what’s going on,” she says to Don, who is visibly taken aback.

Don orders Sally to stay put, then returns to the Fillmore account meeting only to be interrupted again: Miss Blankenship has suddenly croaked. Her death rattles the staff, particularly Joan and Roger.

“She died like she lived,” Roger says, “surrounded by the people she answered phones for.”

While the efficient Joan arranges for Miss Blankenship’s body to be squired out of site -- “Megan, get a man and we’ll need a blanket” -- Don implores Fay to take Sally to his apartment.

This is the first of two times in the next hours that Don will force her into parenting Sally. Later on, she accuses him of testing her maternal abilities. But for now she only hesitates until Don laments, “I would have my secretary do it but she’s dead.”

The “executive secretary’s” death lowers Joan’s defense against Roger’s constant overtures, and he convinces her to join him outside the office. “Go get your things,’’ he tells her. “I’ll meet you in the lobby.” The two return to a diner where they sought cherry cheesecake and each other’s company in previous days. “Every time I think back all the good’s stuff’s was with you,’’ he tells her.

On the way home, they get held up at gunpoint by a man who steals Roger’s wallet and watch, Joan’s pocketbook and wedding ring.

Afterward, Joan's shaking and exclaiming, “I can’t breathe.” “Stop it,” Roger commands. “Everything can be replaced. You’re fine.” And then she leans into him to kiss him hungrily, and he kisses back, and then she whispers, "Don’t stop."

He obliges, but the next day she resets her face and reminds them that both that they are married. He states the obvious: that they still have feelings for each other. And now... we guess….a baby on the way?

When Don telephones Betty to inform her that Sally’s at his office, she tells him that she won’t pick up her daughter until the following night. For the next 36 hours Don has to parent by himself. During this rare time alone with Daddy, Sally tries hard to please, makes him a breakfast of rum-covered pancakes.

She tells him that she wants to live with him, but Don insists this isn’t possible. Over and over, she promises to be good. But Don remains unmoved.

When the ever-brittle Betty comes to collect her daughter, Sally totally freaks out, runs furiously down the hall and falls.

And even though the motherly Megan picks her up, hugs her, and tells her everything’s going to be okay, we know it’s true when a dead-eyed Sally resolutely answers, “No, it’s not.”

The episode ends with Dr. Fay, Peggy and Joan all in the same elevator – going down.

Miz J, who typically pens the Mad Men recaps, will return next week.