Editor's note: An upcoming script for the award-winning AMC series "Mad Men" has inexplicably fallen into our hands. For the uninitiated, the series, created by Matt Wiener, is set in the fictional Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency in the early 1960s.
The advertising world portrayed on "Mad Men" is almost exclusively the domain of white males, either American or British. Women are present in subordinate roles, but they might as well be invisible when they're not being chased around desks by their lecherous bosses.
Blacks are invisible on "Mad Men" with the exception of Hollis, the elevator operator, and Carla, the maid who works for Don and Betty Draper. It is not a particularly diverse world. The only fun thing about Sterling Cooper from a modern perspective is that chain-smoking and drinking in the office are tolerated.
This episode opens in 1963. Sterling Cooper's creative director and resident mystery man Don Draper (Jon Hamm) is perusing resumes in his office. Peggy Olson (Elizabeth Moss), Sterling Cooper's only female copywriter, is sitting across from him. Draper promoted her two years earlier because she was smart and had great ideas. As his former secretary, Peggy is simultaneously deferential and eager to prove she can be counted on to be the one person at the firm always willing to think outside the box.
Roger Sterling (John Slattery), the very patrician, white-haired senior partner at Sterling Cooper is pacing the room nursing a glass of scotch. He stops to stare at the impressive view of Madison Avenue outside Don's window.
Don: "The world is changing, Roger. Sterling Cooper has no choice but to keep pace or die. There's no evolutionary advantage to being a proud dinosaur when the asteroid that will destroy your world is on the horizon."
Roger continues staring at the early evening Manhattan skyline. He slowly sips his drink. The ice is melting.
Roger: "I don't know, Don. Do we really want to jump on the civil rights bandwagon at this stage of the game? Just because we lost the big March on Washington account doesn't mean we need to change the culture of Sterling Cooper to acknowledge the social tumult around us. We already have 'colored' people working here. I make a point to speak to Hollis on the elevator every morning. Every day when I get my shoes shined, I talk sports to the boot black in the lobby."
Don ignores Roger's attempt at humor. Peggy briefly raises an eyebrow. She stopped smiling at Roger's condescension a long time ago.
Peggy: "I'm struck by something that the march's organizer, Bayard Rustin, told us when we met with him for lunch today. He said that Dr. King and the other preachers were uncomfortable doing business with a firm that didn't believe in their core mission -- the cultivation of a diverse society beginning with its workplaces."
Roger: "Interesting. I wonder how many advertising firms employ Negroes as ad copywriters and creative consultants? First of all, where in the world would you find one that's qualified to do this work even if you were willing to go in that direction?"
Don stands. He lights a cigarette and loosens his tie.
Don: "Advertising copy isn't rocket science, Roger. When I elevated Peggy from the typing pool, there were whispers that I had lost my mind. Now she's one of our most valuable players. All you need is imagination, great ideas and the ability to persuade potential clients to get on board with your vision of their product. Those skills aren't the exclusive domain of white men, are they?"
Roger grimaces and exhales before walking toward the door.
Roger: "So, you really want to pull the trigger and hire a black copywriter?"
Don: "Peggy is helping me select from a pool of really strong candidates, Roger."
Roger: "Let's bring one or two on as interns. Don't make any long-term commitments until we see how clients react to them. We don't want to get too far ahead of the public when it comes to integrating the workplace."
Don nods. Roger walks out the door. Suddenly, the door opens again.
Roger: "Oh, Don. Don't go crazy with this diversity business. We're a respectable firm here. We can assimilate one or two more Jews at most, but absolutely no homosexuals or unmarried mothers, you hear me?"
Don and Peggy exchange knowing glances.
Don: "Absolutely, Roger. We have our standards."
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