August, 23 1963 will forever be remembered as the day Don Draper (Jon Hamm) signed the second most important contract of his life. The first was his marriage certificate with Betty. Now, Don’s signed on for three years with Sterling Cooper.
However, in the words of Mr. Cooper, “when it comes down to it, who’s really signing this contract anyway?” As with prior seasons of Mad Men, Don’s flashbacks have begun toward the latter third of the season. This time it’s under the influence of a few drugs given to him by a couple of teenage thieves.
“Would you say I know something about you Don?” Mr. Cooper (Robert Morse) asks Don, knowing the answer. Unfortunately, for the viewing audience we are still slowly uncovering the web of Don’s true past. We know he was the unwanted son of a prostitute, who died in childbirth. Also, Don took the name from a man whose widow he befriended.
As we move towards the finale, what other secrets will be revealed about Don’s past? And, how far will Don go to protect his shadowed past?
In “Mad Men” Season 3 Episode 8, “Souvenir,” Don takes Betty on a business trip. Pete helps a neighbor in his building.
Just my two cents’ worth here: Don did not take his name from a man whose widow he befriended. Technically, yes, but it didn’t happen that way. Early in season 1 (first episode?), we learned via a fairly graphic flashback that Dick Whitman had been a soldier, presumably in Korea, with another soldier named Don Draper. Draper was due to go home soon. It was just the two of them somewhere; there was an attack and Draper was killed and his face mutilated beyond recognition. Dick saw his opportunity and switched dogtags with Draper dogtags, leaving the war with his new identity. Later on, he was confronted by Draper’s widow who knows full well who he isn’t. He apparently begins sending her money to keep her silent about it, and over time they become friends.