Don is on the outside looking in on the forced indefinite paid leave from his job. While Ted heads back to New York for a few days, Don takes the opportunity to head to Los Angeles in part to meet with a California transformed Pete while he reunites with Megan, who is living full time there while pursuing what looks to be a promising acting career. Back in New York, Peggy avoids Ted at all cost while she learns to deal with the new "Don", Lou Avery, most specifically on the Accutron account for which she is getting consulting help from Freddie Rumsen. On top of that, she is also having to deal with being a landlady to who she believes are overly demanding tenants. Ken feeling overworked leads to Joan taking over his scheduled business meeting with Wayne Barnes, the new Head of Marketing for Butler Footwear. Barnes' news results in Joan taking what she hopes will be seen as decisive and preemptive action in overcoming a potential problem, action which she hopes demonstrates that she deserves to be more than just a glorified secretary. And Roger meets with Margaret on her request, the two who have been somewhat estranged over the last few months. Their individual new approaches to life may result in a friction-free reunion.

Sally discovers that Don is not working, Pete lands a big account but is undercut by management, and Joan is forced to move some secretaries around after Lou and Peggy have some problems.

After a fight with Megan during a surprise trip to California, Don decides it's time to get back to work. Meanwhile, Betty joins Bobby on a field trip to a farm.

While Lou becomes the object of ridicule for the copy writers, Don tries to get away to California after a call from his pregnant niece. Meanwhile, the new office computer drives Ginsberg to the brink of insanity.

Don is oddly drawn to a diner waitress as he learns about the loss of an old acquaintance, Peggy and Joan are disrespected by a chauvinistic client, and Cosgrove is in for big changes after his biggest business connection retires.

While Megan comes to New York with her mother and sister to collect her belongings, Don has a romance with the waitress. Meanwhile, Peggy and Stan work with a famous photographer on a commercial shoot.

The partners discover that the firm is losing its independence and there's nothing they can do about it. Peggy is not sure if she wants to come along. Meanwhile, Pete and Trudy have trouble getting their daughter into private school.

Don goes AWOL from McCann Erickson in the middle of a meeting. Joan quickly gets fed up with the sexism at the new firm. Roger and Peggy put off reporting to their new jobs as long as possible.