Don with Sally's teacher, or Betty with Henry Francis?  Pete and Peggy maybe?

I put my money on Don. I've concluded that he's a sex addict, even though that term didn't exist then. He seems compelled to have sex, then he feels bad about himself for doing it afterward. He tries to quit, but can't. All are classic signs of an addict.

I think the "Pete and Peggy" ship has sailed - for both of them.

I think Don might be an addict of sorts, but not necessarily a sex addict. More like a thrill junkie.
After spending his early years stuck with a grim excuse for a family, he found freedom when he reinvented himself as Don Draper. After a momentary lapse at normalcy when he married (knocked up?) Betty, he's been trying to recapture that feeling of freedom ever since. For a seemingly staid, button-up guy, he certainly is willing to flaunt convention, i.e. pot, pills, etc. He is always trying convince whatever woman he's with to throw caution to the wind. The beatnik chick in the Village wouldn't go to France with him on a spur of the moment, so clearly he could no longer be with her. Same with Department Store gal, she couldn't get past her background and responsibilites, not to mention latent ethics. JetSetter girl came the closest, but even she came with the baggage of the rest of the Euro-trash; not fancy free enough for Dick/Don.

As to Sally's teacher, that chick is psycho. She was sure Don wanted her, acted like the affair had already happened, and was now assuming the angry/victimized mistress role. Unfortunately, I think that may attract Don all the more, like a moth to a flame. Especially now that he's been beaten down by both Cooper and Betty.

He is definitely a 'thrill addict', or rather, he feels trapped by his responsibilities.  Why else would he not want a contract... it's like Betty said, where exactly does he plan to be in three years time?  It should be the exactly the same place, taking care of his family, but he doesn't want to resign himself to fate.  All these women give him that feeling of freedom, like anything could happen... I think the teacher is boring and horrible compared to the other ladies though.

I'm putting my money on Betty and Henry.  She had little taste of the big stray last year as a reaction to being betrayed.  Now, she is drawn to someone with whom she has much more in common (same socio-economic background, same area, etc.).  When she met Don, she was a model.  She has a much broader view on the world now, and a burning fire inside that seems to be intensifying.  Besides, if this does happen, it will put Don in place where he's never been.

I rewatched the episode from season 1 last night where Pete confronts Don about his past, and tries to blackmail Don into making him Head of Accounts.

I had forgotten that Don's first instinct was to cut and run. He went straight to Rachel Menkin and pleaded with her to drop her life right now, this minute, and go with him somewhere to "start over." He acted like the Army, FBI, and Pinkertons were hot on his heels already. Divorce was one thing, but she was appalled that he'd abandon his wife and children without a second thought, and called him a coward. I think to a large extent, this is true. He bullys Pete, Peggy, Bobbie, Betty, and Betty's brother, all of whom are much smaller than him in stature and status. He sucker punched Jimmy Barrett, an obnoxious jerk, but still half his size. But when push comes to shove he has always backed down to his superiors, Roger, Bert, Connie, and the Brits.

When Pete finally rats him out, Cooper says, "The Japanese have a saying. Who a man is depends on what room he is in." I cannot think of a more appropriate person than Don to go with that saying.

Betty & Henry. The sparks are already flying. I think Don's not truly interested in the teacher. Plus she comes on strong.
Who saw Peggy & Duck coming? Not me!

Aside from the new British owners, smarmy Duck is the most sexually uncharged person on the cast, so yes, it was surprise. It's difficult to predict much of anything in Mad Men — too many things just come out of left field. Don is overdue for a sexual fling, though. I mean, it's been what, three weeks? The school teacher has trouble written all over her.

I would count Don & Betty's rendezvous as a form of "straying" given the masquerading and costume-play involved. It definitely was a sort of sanctioned cheating the way it played out. It also seemed to have ended badly if Betty's reaction is any indication.

Made an interesting bookend with Pete's indiscretion with the au-pair.

And the winner is, shockingly ( ), Don.

Yeah, technically Betty kissed that doofus first, but she pulled back in time. Meanwhile Don does what Don does best - find the most attractive girl around and bed her.

I had hoped Don would have enough sense to stay away from the teacher; she's bad news, and of all his affairs, she's closer to his family than any of the rest. But with his worklife crashing down around him (what was it Sterling said? "You're in over your head"), he seems more desperate to find an outlet for his "bad" side.

Contrast that to Betty, who's weird attempt at an affair seems to be an attempt to find some happiness in her stagnant life. I still don't understand her though. One minute she's angry that Henry didn't come see her, then she says an afternoon tryst is too "tawdry" and seems to break it off? She runs very hot and cold. I guess the "real life" Henry doesn't live up to the one in her dreams.

I think the show pretty clearly presents that even Betty doesn't know what Betty wants - in that way her character is very consistent in searching for something to believe in.

Don too is performing exactly as we've come to expect from previous seasons, but just like a traffic accident, we all want to see just how badly it will end.

mneeley490-thanks for recapping the Pete threatening Don and Cooper's quote. I had completely forgotten that episode. I know in another post someone had mentioned it, but I couldn't recall the situation... and it was bothering me!

   Yes, I had the feeling that Betty is doing what house cats do-causing mischief when they are bored. Although this sentiment seems harsh because I also believe Betty is stuck in a married woman in suburbia role that can feel restrictive. This episode seemed to show her reaching out to Henry. I don't think it was all together just sexual attraction. She likes the attention (or adoration) Henry gives her, but I don't see her wanting an affair just to have an affair. She knows she's good looking and that she can attract men, now it seems like she wants a relationship that isn't just physical.

Interesting Claudette - makes me wonder if Betty has a little bit of a "daddy" thing going on here, especially so close on after Gene's death.  She looks for approval from an older man who showers her with attention but when he attempts to sexualize the relationship, it doesn't sit well with her.

Right, this is what makes Betty so real as a character to me - this aversion to being placed in the category of Trophy Wife while at the same time using her sexual capital to test whether should "could" land Henry if she wanted him. The same could be said for her one night stand. These non-Dons are the only way she can demonstrate the only power that she has. Even the house runs itself so there isn't anything left except her physical facade that keeps her world together. In some ways, her facade is just as fragile as Don's and while she may not consciously realize it, she certainly senses it.