This week’s Mad Men focused on the power of women.

As the boys at SCDP struggled with the Jaguar account, they focused their pitches on the Jaguar as a sexy mistress a man could try to control.

But it was the women of Mad Men who showed they held the power.

The Jaguar pitch was close to doom when Jaguar man Herb Rennet told Pete Campbell that in order for SCDP to win the account, he wanted Joan to sleep with him.

Then Pete Campbell proved why he’s a douche:  He asked Joan to sleep with the client.

After his indecent proposal, Pete said:

This was an act of desperation.  I hope I haven’t insulted you. That’s all that matters to me.

He then tries to sell the idea to the partners, and they are all disgusted.

Don showed why he’s Don:

He’s one guy and we can win it without him.  End of discussion.

Don leaves the room and Pete continues with the other partners, who are also disgusted, but not disgusted enough to shoot the plan down.

Sterling:

Don’t fool yourself.  This is some dirty business.

Cooper:

Let her know she can still say no.

Pryce:

Lane only gives Pete a look that says, “I will punch your face.  Again.”

Meanwhile, Peggy saves the Chevalier Blanc account by pitching a new idea that takes place in Paris.

Don tells them to have Ginsberg move forward, and Peggy objects because it was her idea.

Don gets angry:

Jesus.  Peggy, you know what? You wanna go to Paris?
Here.  Go go Paris.

And, he throws cash from his pocket in her face.

Back to Joan:

Lane looks out for Joan and tells her that she should ask for 5 percent of the business and a partnership.

And, that’s what she does.

When Don hears that Pete went behind his back and continued with the plan, he is livid.

He goes to Joan’s apartment and tells her not to sleep with the client because it’s not worth it, and they don’t need to do business with people like that.

Joan realizes that Don was the only partner to stand up for her, but did the realization come too late?

Joan listens and appreciates Don’s support.

Don leaves for the pitch, thinking he’s convinced Joan.

As creative pitches Jaguar, Joan arrives at Herb Rennet’s hotel room…but Herb is also at the pitch meeting.  How?

Joan takes one for team SCDP, but she's really taken control of part of the agency.

Don pitches, and Joan becomes the mistress as Don says:

Oh, this car.  This thing, gentlemen.
What price would we pay?  What behavior would we forgive if it weren’t pretty?
It they weren’t temperamental.  If it weren’t beyond our reach and a little out of our control would we love them like we do?

Jaguar.  At last, something beautiful you can truly own.

Don lays out his best pitch, as Jaguar man Herb Rennet smiles while thinking about Joan Harris.

Then we see Don arrive at Joan’s apartment again, telling her:

I wanted to tell you it’s not worth it.  If we don’t get Jaguar, so what.  Who wants to be in business with people like that?

The Mad Men Moment:

We realize that Don’s visit to Joan came too late, and that had he arrived sooner, she would not have slept with the client.

By the time Don arrived, the deed was done.

And, Herb Rennet was all smiles at the pitch meeting because he’d already slept with Joan.

The next day, the partner’s gather to await the phone call from Jaguar.

Roger enters, Don enters, Lane enters, then Joan enters.

Don realizes that Joan went through with the dirty deed, and Joan realizes that she's let Don down.

Don is shocked, and Joan seems disappointed, perhaps in herself or perhaps for letting down Don Draper.

As the staff celebrates the Jaguar account, Peggy tells Don that she’s leaving the agency.

Don's protégé leaves the agency, and it couldn't have come at a worse time for Don Draper.

So, can you really own a woman who holds the power?

Peggy and Joan would beg to differ.