"Mad Men:" "Why would you deny yourself something you want?"

Spoiler alert: Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) loses the ponytail!

Here's AMC's requisite episode recap, which, actually, is as forthcoming as they've been all season:

"On a business trip to Los Angeles, Don becomes acquainted with some exciting new friends. Peggy looks for romance at work. Duck starts thinking about the future of Sterling Cooper."

Despite a curious detour, things happen and often in this episode, since we're coming down to the wire as far as season two goes. Don (Jon Hamm), out in the land of swimming pools/movie stars, restrains from being tempted - for, oh, a minute or two - and then finds himself surrounded by Euro jet trash. (Check that: "Exciting" Euro jet trash.)

Pete's (Vincent Kartheiser) left to fend for himself in L.A. (does sneaky Pete or ambitious Pete take charge, and does he get to choose?), while Roger (John Slattery) makes what is quite likely a monumentally bad decision (how did a guy who lets Little Roger do all his thinking become so successful?), and Peggy's invitation to see Bob Dylan in the Village proves a double-edged sword (particularly for her coif).

Meanwhile, Duck (Mark Moses) negotiates a huge deal - but will Sterling Cooper be the beneficiary?

Another first: Don invites his shadowy past into his present. And even I'm not sure what that will mean.

Again: Another episode where there's something in the water, where characters seem to be floating along, incapable of grasping something real due to all the ephemera surrounding and enticing them. Another episode of almost dreamlike states - reality's going to come crashing down soon. (After all, we only have two episodes left this season - and how will we get by until season three?)

Bonus lines of dialogue, presented context-free:

"Due to the decrease in infrastructure and population - total annihilation."

"I don't know why I pick the wrong boys."

"I just saw Tony Curtis in the men's room."

"I knew queers existed. I just don't want to work with them."

"You're beautiful and you don't talk too much." (Curiously enough, this line is not uttered by Roger.)

"Does Right Guard make you feel more secure at work?"

- "Mad Men:" 10 and 11 p.m. Sunday, AMC.