Don asks if Lane has a gambling problem, but Lane bites out that he owed taxes on his portfolio, which he liquidated to put fifty thousand dollars into the company as per his partnership agreement after Lucky Strike left. Well, I should have realized that this is where Lane's financial problems started, but I'm surprised he agreed to this plan so readily at the time if it was going to cost him even more than he had. Also, now that I think about it, he did screw up in not negotiating to be exempt from further contributions, given that he didn't get rich off the sale as the rest of them did -- given how much they needed him to get away from the old SC, I think he could have swung that. Which, by the way, is a little detail I hope Joan was smart enough to catch -- there's obviously no way she could afford to put in a partnership contribution, although the likelihood that it'll be needed seems far less now. Don wonders why Lane didn't just ask if he needed the money so badly, but Lane -- his voice raised now -- says he didn't think it was worth "suffering the humiliation for a thirteen-day loan! That was my money!" I mean, look, it's not that he has no point at all, but we're still obviously talking about multiple felonies and he's also showing no contrition so as much as it hurts, I have to back Don's play when after some long moments he tells Lane he's going to need his resignation. Any color that's left in Lane's face drains as he realizes how badly he just fucked up and he tries to tell Don he's sorry and he's not sure how it came to this, but the company is in great shape and he'll make good on what he owes by Easter, even if he has to pull his son out of school. Don, however, points out that Lane not only embezzled money, he forged Don's signature and Lane tries to spin that bit by saying he chose Don because he's always been the most decent to him? I mean, the statement may be true as far as Don goes, but I still think Lane's only concern is whose signature was easiest to copy. Don counters that what he's doing is the most decent course available to him given the circumstances, to which Lane, suddenly half in tears, bursts out that he's never been compensated for his role in the company and he's operated on a loss for three years. He whispers for Don to please reconsider and honestly from a business standpoint, Don very well might, as Lane still knows a lot of stuff the rest of them don't and it's very likely that Don would have scared Lane straight for life here.