Mad Men - Vincent Kartheiser Interview

In Sunday’s episode, Bob appeared to be making a pass at Pete. Were you surprised Pete played it cool?
I think it was very natural.

Really?
Yes. You found it unnatural?

I guess I expected Pete to snap, which he tends to do.
This is not something that he foresaw. It’s not an ongoing issue. This is a moment that happened out of the blue, and if it’s ever happened to you, and I don’t know if it has, but if it’s ever happened to you, if someone of the same sex that you didn’t recognize had those feelings toward you, and then all of a sudden that happens, there’s just a moment where it sets in.

Now, you also have to understand the reason he didn’t explode is because Bob is bigger than him and stronger than him, and Pete last season got his ass kicked by someone who wasn’t as big or as strong as Bob. Matthew’s allowed his characters to learn. Okay, Pete can scream at his secretary. He can scream at his mom. But to scream at or attack someone like Bob, who has a lot to lose in this situation, may open Pete Campbell up to a broken jaw or a black eye.

Read full interview at Vulture