Mad Men
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Mad Mens characters constantly scold others for acting childish.
But its pot-kettle all the way.
When a transgression is followed by a penalty, theyre bewildered and angry.
They cant see how one led to the other.
Roger hates that he has to drink milk to soothe his ulcer.
Rogers whole life is a vacation.
In another scene, Peggy seems to absorb Petes immaturity by osmosis.
It starts when they go out for drinks at a bar.
Don shows Roger up without meaning to.
Roger thinks a couple of cute young women are checking them out.
After they turn thirty a light goes out, says Roger.
I dont think those two have thirty years between them, Don says.
Thats fine by Roger: Hes still a teenager at heart.
But the women are actually checking out Don.
Suddenly Roger doesnt exist.
This slight is probably weighing on Roger when he invites himself over to the Drapers for a home-cooked meal.
Roger lingers far past the point when he should leave.
Simple, to the point, and colloquial, just like her father, Roger says.
Roger tells a heroic war story in a no-fuss tone that describes his state of mind as bored.
Don says, seeing through Rogers facade.
That never comes out in these stories.
The evening turns ugly when Roger makes a pass at Betty in the kitchen.
The sense of entitlement is overwhelming, and there are also aspects of jealousy and vindictiveness.
Later, in the kitchen, Don reveals that hes as blind to Bettys true intentions as Roger was.
Do you want to bounce me off the walls?
Sometimes I feel like Im living with a little girl, Don says.
He sort of is.
Betty slaps Helen in the face.
Dons revenge on Roger for the kitchen incident takes the form of an elaborate prank.
Roger: Did you know they served cheesecake to the Olympic athletes in Ancient Greece?
Don: So whats an extra lap or two around the steno pool for us?
He orders two cheesecakes.
Roger stops to find a tie clip that he didnt lose.
Hes gasping like a man who just escaped a house fire.
Mad Menalways includes a healthy dose of immaturity.
One more plate of oysters.
One more slice of cake.
We can do what we want.
Back in the office, Bert and Don meet the clients.
Roger stumbles in and retches a geyser-strength plume.
He pitches forward in a close-up.
He keeps upchucking in a wide shot.
His torso is jackknifed ninety degrees.
He could be Godzilla breathing fire on a tank that ran over his foot.
The spew is grayish-white and lumpy, the sum total of the milk and oysters and martinis and cheesecake.
The shows prop department deserved a special Emmy for the texture and color of Rogers puke.
It could withstand forensic scrutiny.
Roger slumps back on some steps.
Theres a white smear at the corner of his mouth and his face is as gray as an oyster.
Good, says Don.
Theyll see each other again at recess.
Excerpted with permission fromMad Men Carouselby Matt Zoller Seitz.
