- Ted meets with a lawyer named Shaunessy. He seems like a no-nonsense dude; he has a no-nonsense mustache. Shaunessy lays thing out for Ted. In short, this custody battle's probably going to get nasty, and the odds aren't in their favor.
- Also, it's going to be expensive. He suggests that Ted go home and make a list of pros and cons before he commits to fighting Joanna in court.
- Ted sits at the dining room table working on his list. It looks late; the dirty dinner dishes are still on the table. The wall behind him is filled with Billy's artwork. His list is filled with cons.
- Cut to Ted holding Billy while he sleeps. He tells him he loves him. Pro.
- At lunch with Jim, Ted tells a long story about how Billy noticed that he lost weight. Jim looks bored out of his mind.
- Jim tells Ted that one of their big clients is inviting other ad agencies to pitch them for one of Ted's accounts. Look, our experience in the ad business is limited to watching all seven seasons of Mad Men, but we're pretty sure that can't be good.
- Jim says Ted's not cutting it. Then he fires him. Harsh.
- Ted begs Jim not to fire him, explaining that he's fighting for custody of his kid, so this is pretty much the worst time ever to get fired. Jim offers him some cash. Ouch.
- Ted leaves Jim, the money, and the restaurant, but not before issuing a curt "Shame on you" to his now former boss.
- Here's a sweet scene: Ted and Billy at the kitchen table, stringing popcorn, making construction paper garland, and humming "Jingle Bells."
- Shaunessy calls. Ted tells him that he lost his job, and Shaunessy says they have zero chance of winning if Ted's out of work.
- Ted wants to delay their court date. Nope. It's too late. Ted tells Shaunessy he'll have a job in 24 hours. Shaunessy's all, "Uh, how on Earth are you going to make that happen?" and, frankly, so are we.
- Cut to Ted circling jobs in the want ads at a coffee shop.
- Ted goes to a headhunter. There's a job available in the art department at another ad agency. It's a step-down for Ted, both in position and pay. Ted doesn't care.
- It's the Friday before Christmas, not exactly the best time to interview, but Ted insists that the headhunter calls the agency and makes him an appointment.
- Ted shows his portfolio to an exec at the agency, Mr. Ackerman, while their office Christmas party rages in the next room. Everybody's feeling that disco beat. Because it's 1979.
- Ackerman tells Ted he's got some good stuff there, and that he'd like to think things over. Ted asks who Ackerman needs to talk to before he makes his decision. Ackerman says it's Mr. Spencer, their creative director, but Spencer's about to leave for a two-week vacation, what with it being December 22nd and all. He'll have Spencer get in touch with Ted when he gets back.
- Ted insists that Ackerman go get Spencer right now, explaining that he really wants this job. Ted is all sorts of pushy.
- Ackerman disappears into the Christmas party and comes back with Spencer, drink in hand. Spencer reiterates that there's a pay-cut involved and asks why Ted wants a job he's clearly over-qualified for.
- Ted repeats that he needs it. He doesn't explain why.
- Spencer says he'll think about it. Ted tells Spencer and Ackerman that this is a one-day offer. They've seen his work. They know he's the bomb. If they want him, they have to decide today.
- Spencer says he needs a moment to talk to Ackerman.
- While they talk, Ted takes a seat in the other room. The office party continues all around him. Spencer calls Ted back in. He's got the job.
- Ted's happy. On the way out of the office, he grabs a random blonde woman and kisses her on the mouth. "Merry Christmas," he says. Surprisingly, she doesn't slap him.