Shut the Door. Have a Seat.
| "Shut the Door. Have a Seat." | |
|---|---|
| Mad Men episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 13 |
| Directed by | Matthew Weiner |
| Written by | Matthew Weiner Erin Levy |
| Original air date | November 8, 2009 |
"Shut the Door. Have a Seat." is the thirteenth episode and season finale of the third season of the American television drama series Mad Men, and the 39th overall episode of the series. The episode was written by series creator and executive producer Matthew Weiner and Erin Levy, and directed by Weiner. It originally aired on the AMC channel in the United States on November 8, 2009. The title refers to a line that is spoken once in the episode verbatim, but more generally to similar phrases that are spoken to various characters throughout, "and they sit and hear some life-changing bit of news".
"Shut the Door. Have a Seat." aired to widespread acclaim from television critics and has appeared on many publications' lists of the show's greatest episodes.
Don Draper (Jon Hamm) is informed by Conrad Hilton (Chelcie Ross) that McCann Erickson is buying Puttnam, Powell, and Lowe, and thereby also Sterling Cooper. This means Hilton has to sever his relationship with Don, who feels betrayed, but Hilton tells him to take control of his own fate. Don approaches Bertram Cooper (Robert Morse) and suggests they buy the company themselves. The two bring in Roger Sterling (John Slattery), whose American Tobacco account they depend on, and Lane Pryce (Jared Harris) who, it turns out, has been misled by his British employers. When Lane points out that the buying price will be too high, Don suggests that Lane instead fire everybody and that the four of them start their own firm, bringing along their accounts. The partners take advantage of the time difference between New York and London to put their plan into action, with Lane sending a notifying cable to PPL late on Friday, which gives them until Monday morning to get what they need to start a new firm. Don first informs Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) about the plan, but she angrily refuses to come along because she feels taken for granted. Only after heartfelt assurances from Don about her value to the firm and to him does she agree to join the new firm. The partners of what will become Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce also approach Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser), whom they need for the value of his accounts, Harry Crane (Rich Sommer) for media, and Joan Harris (Christina Hendricks) to keep order in the company papers. The partners raid the Sterling Cooper offices late at night over the weekend, taking everything pertaining to the accounts they need for their new firm as well as their office furniture and personal belongings.
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