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.

Don returns to work, but quickly falls off the wagon after learning that he's been assigned to Peggy. Meanwhile, Roger and his ex-wife go to a commune to rescue their daughter, who has abandoned her child.

Peggy has second thoughts about her Burger Chef campaign when Don is asked to pitch her commercial, Pete visits his wife and daughter on his trip back to New York, and Bob Benson gets some surprising news from G.M. about the account.