Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Lastly, we're runnin'low
on surgical gowns.
Get three cartons.
Those gowns are
as good as got, sir.
- How about matching pumps?
- [Phone Rings]
You wanna answer that,
Corporal Dior?
House of Potter.
Uh-oh.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Just a minute, sir.
General Torgeson
at Logistics and Support, sir.
Torgy Porgy.
Shows ya.
No matter how overcast a day, there's
always room for one more black cloud.
Torgy! Long time no hear.
Sure.
What's on your mind?
Uh-huh.
Our tent flap is always open
to you G-4 guys.
[Chuckles] You too, Torgy.
Best to your latest missus.
Didn't I tell you four
would be your lucky number?
Oh.
Well, five is
a good number too.
- [Clears Throat]
- Visitors, huh?
You want me to sweep the dust
under the dirt in the V.
I.
P.
Tent?
I guess you better.
Torgy is sending up
a Major Nathaniel Burnham
to eyeball us
for a couple of days.
What's Logistics and Support
nosin' around here for?
Oh, I'm sure
Torgy's just bored.
Whenever there's a lull in his paperwork,
he sends someone out on a loose-thread patrol.
- Then he tugs and hopes I'll unravel.
- Why?
He and I came out
of the cavalry together
then we both went into med school.
Four years later I was a doctor
[Chuckles]
And he was just four years older.
- [Chuckles] He washed out, huh?
- With bleach.
His I.
Q.
Is lower
than his boot size.
But the army had enough savvy to put him
in a job where he couldn't do any harm.
Made him a general,
Medical Administration.
Well, as my Uncle Amos used to say,
"Those who can't, manage those who can.
"
One of his employees
made that up for him.
This manager's telling you to give that
talker a tickle and requisition those supplies.
Yes, boss.
How do, H.
Q.
?
We need surgical gowns.
What do you mean, no?
Our doctors have operations
to go to and nothing to wear.
Of course this is an emergency.
In case you haven't heard
President Truman has declared
this whole emergency an emergency.
Yeah, I suppose we got enough
to last us for a week.
What's the holdup?
Classified?
So, this three-star at G-4
is sending Burnham here just to observe.
When are they gonna declare this war
off-limits to sightseers?
The colonel says there's
nothing to worry about.
He gets this kind of stuff
from General Torgeson all the time.
- General Edwin Torgeson?
- You know Torgy Porgy?
We're old pen pals.
His signature is on the orders
that sent me to this place.
He's a MASH-maker.
Another shower for my olives.
Just a minute, Captain.
Are you saying General Torgeson is in charge
of putting new MASH units together?
Exactly.
He's built them all from
his own black-and-blueprints.
[Groans]
This is terrible.
I'm sorry.
Next time
I'll order a manhattan.
No, you don't understand.
H.
Q.
Has placed a temporary freeze
on all medical supplies
and they're not saying why.
I said, "Sounds like you got enough stuff there
to start another MASH unit.
"
Well, they do, and they're gonna!
- I hope not.
Too many of these
can run down a neighborhood.
- Captain, this ain't funny.
It means they're
gonna split up the 4077.
They're gonna take the best people from here
to form the new MASH.
Klinger, don't let your
imagination run away with me.
Oh, sure, what do you care?
You're only a doctor.
It's guys like me
they're gonna grab first.
Lebanese corporals?
I may be a mere corporal
to you, but to the army
I am an indispensable
five-star scrounge.
And if that's not bad enough
Colonel Potter gave me
a good efficiency report for this month.
What a rotten trick!
Klinger, calm down.
This is all in your head
which doesn't put it
in the best of company.
I'm glad you find my agony
so amusing.
But I wouldn't last a day with
an unreasonable C.
O.
Who treats clerks like clerks.
Do me a favor.
Keep these silly rumors to yourself.
Somebody's liable
to take this seriously.
I'm telling you, Beej.
This is serious.
It means they're forming a new MASH.
Since when do you put your faith
in the gospel according to Max Klinger?
I told Klinger he was wrong,
because if he knew how right he was
he'd have this whole place
in a panic.
- So what do we do?
- For starters, you can give me some more soap.
- You know what this means?
- Soap.
Hmm? Means they're gonna be trying to seed
this new MASH with the best of the best.
That means I'll be chief surgeon.
Oh, ho, ho.
Wrong on two counts.
First of all, there isn't
going to be any new unit.
Secondly, even if there was,
what makes you think you'd be chief surgeon?
Well, I'm chief surgeon here.
Hawk, sometimes you've got
a head as big as all outdoors.
Did it ever occur to you that you're chief surgeon
here only because you got here first?
- Maybe they put me here first
because I'm the best.
- [Laughs]
- Let me try this one out on you.
- Yeah.
If they made you chief surgeon at the new
unit, that'd make me chief surgeon here.
Now, wouldn't it be simpler if they just
made me chief surgeon at the new unit?
What difference does it make
who's chief surgeon what where?
Because I'm just as capable of being
chief whatever wherever as you are.
Either way, they're gonna separate us,
and you're my best friend.
I never got along this well
with anybody, you moron!
- Well, that goes double for me, stupid!
- So what are we gonna do?
They're gonna take somebody from here.
And it's gonna be one of us.
Unless
- ## [Humming]
- As long as you have to be here
you might as well be
where you can do some good.
Hey, I didn't say I was gonna do it.
Just let me dream, will ya?
You gotta admit
it's a tantalizing thought.
True.
But sitting around
in a plush office
prescribing hangover remedies for generals
and their wives is a waste of talent.
Gentlemen, am I to infer
from your conversation
that you are contemplating
a change of venue from these trials?
Nah.
We heard there's a major
going from unit to unit
trying to find a personal
surgeon for General Torgeson.
- It's probably just a rumor.
- Now that you mention it
there is a Major Burnham
due to arrive tomorrow.
Burnham.
Is that the name we heard?
- Burnham? Yeah, Burnham.
- Yeah, that could be it.
Did I understand you to say you are not
going to throw your stethoscopes into the ring?
Nah, Charles.
I've had offers like this before.
That kind of society doctoring
is not for me.
Me neither.
I couldn't live with myself.
And there are a lot of soldiers around here
who couldn't live without myself.
You are both men of principle,
and justifiably so.
You certainly wouldn't want
to join the mob of people
who will no doubt be sucking up
to Major Burnham, now would you?
There's not exactly a mob.
It's a secret mission.
Everybody thinks he's here
on a fact-finding tour.
- Nobody knows to suck up to him.
- Almost nobody.
[No Audible Dialogue]
Torgy Porgy?
[Laughs]
- I take it, then, you do know him?
- Oh, we've
Yes, we've met, once
i-in a meeting.
What, uh What were
your impressions of him?
He's very athletic.
I mean, he loves boxing.
Boxing.
How apropos.
A fighting man who likes fighting.
Do you happen to remember
where he's from?
- Montana, I think.
- Ah, yes.
Montana.
Big Sky Country.
Why are you so interested
in General Torgeson?
I thought it would be nice to
gather information about him.
His aide is coming here tomorrow.
- General Torgeson is is sending somebody here?
- Yes.
Tell me more about, uh, Montana.
Does it have a city?
Charles, I can't talk to you now.
I'm very busy.
I have to prepare my duty roster.
A new MASH? How wonderful.
It'll relieve some
of the terrible strain on our doctors.
Wonderful? Oh, Father, why do you
always see the good side of things?
- This is awful.
- Why?
Why? If you're gonna
start up a MASH unit
the first thing you need
is a commanding officer.
Wasn't Colonel Blake already here
when we were assigned?
Yes, you're right,
God rest his soul.
But what makes you so certain
they'll take the colonel?
General Torgeson
and the colonel go way back.
He knows how good
Colonel Potter is.
And once this Burnham sees
our unit running so smoothly
it's bye-bye the sweetest man who ever lived
and hello who-knows-who.
Not a very rosy prospect.
But-But it seems to me it's out of our hands.
Oh, Father, stop seeing
the bad side of things.
We're gonna have to find a way
to convince this Burnham
that Colonel Potter
is the wrong man for the job.
I'm afraid I find it
very difficult to lie.
I'd have to confess to myself,
and I can be very harsh.
Don't worry about that.
I'll take care of the lying.
Your job is to keep Colonel Potter
away from Major Burnham.
- Are you asking me to be
an accessory to a fabrication?
- Yes.
I guess I can live with that.
The most important thing is not to let
anyone know what's going on.
You know how rumors get
blown up all out of proportion.
Excuse me.
I'm looking
for Colonel Potter.
You're excused.
You've found him.
- Ah.
Might I venture a guess
that you're Major Burnham?
- Sir.
- So tell me, how is Torgy?
- Ornery as ever.
Oh, yeah?
[Chuckles]
You should have known him
when he was still married to Edna.
And they called W.
W.
Il
the big war.
[Both Laughing]
- Oh, Colonel.
You're awake.
- Huh?
- You must be Major Burnham.
I'm Major Houlihan.
- Major.
- This is Father Mulcahy.
- Father.
We've got the V.
I.
P.
Tent
all gussied up for you.
Uh, if it's all right with you, Colonel,
I'd rather bunk with your surgeons.
I find it's easier to observe
when there are other people around.
Darn good observation.
Come on.
I'll personally
Oh, Colonel, wait.
You can't go.
I have to talk to you.
- I'll be back in two shakes.
- Uh, I don't think this can wait.
- Oh, don't worry, Colonel.
I'll escort the major.
- Thank you.
Colonel.
Now then, Padre, you've got some sort of burr
in your saddle blanket?
Not exactly the metaphor I would have chosen,
but, uh, I do have something on my mind.
You see, I have been paid a great honor
by the Philadelphia archdiocese.
Ah.
"Hometown padre makes good"
kind of thing?
It's more like being enshrined
in a priests' hall of fame.
They wanna hang my portrait along their
ecclesiastical esplanade.
Well, congrats.
Sounds Almighty impressive.
Yes, it is a bit overwhelming.
And I want you to paint the official portrait.
I'd be honored.
I'll get to it next week.
Oh, no, sir.
No, it-it can't wait.
Uh Uh This must be done
with godspeed.
Now, here's how I see it:
Me with, uh,
clouds in the background
and heavenly light
streaming down from above.
You want me to fix it
so you wink when folks walk by?
and as somebody who has known
Colonel Potter since the day he got here
I can tell you
he's a wonderful man.
Yes, I know.
He certainly
has an excellent reputation.
Sharp as a tack.
And you caught him
at the perfect time just after his morning nap.
Well, Colonel Potter isn't
exactly a youngster anymore.
Ah, right.
Not like
some of those young officers
always coming up with innovations,
always changing things.
He's a little old-fashioned, huh?
Absolutely not.
He's cautious, thorough.
When he makes a decision,
you can trust it.
Why only last month he gave us the go-ahead
to fight infection with penicillin.
- Slim slam alabam.
Blessings, Major and Majorette.
- What is this?
A thousand pardons.
In my religion,
this is the month of the sacred bull.
I wish to invite you to my midnight
prayer service in the minefields.
- Is this man on our side?
- Corporal Klinger, Maxwell Q.
U.
S.
19571782.
- It's all right here, sahib.
- Klinger, get out of our way.
That's an order!
Think about it, Majors.
The minefield service
is an uplifting experience.
- Klinger!
- May your life be free of snakes.
Sh-boom be with you.
- This way.
- What's with him?
Don't pay any attention.
He's just a nut
trying to get out of the army.
Colonel Potter
permits this sort of thing?
Well, only since Klinger
converted him.
and if you hear rumors of senility,
don't pay any attention to them.
No, we haven't heard
anything about that down in Seoul.
Of course you haven't,
because they're 90%% not true.
- This bunk is yours.
- Thank you, Major.
Oh, and if you have
any further questions
I'm sure Colonel Potter
will be happy to answer them.
- He's very alert after his afternoon nap.
- How often does he nap?
Oh, whenever he remembers.
[Dog Barking]
- I got it.
Here, boy.
Here, boy.
- Get him.
Get him.
- That's a good boy.
- Ah, you must be Major Burnham.
I'm Hunnicutt.
B.
J.
Hunnicutt.
Captain Pierce and our top dog.
This mean
you're bunking with us?
I thought it'd be
an interesting experience.
I understand you fellas are terrific doctors
who don't exactly go by the book.
- What do you mean? Sure we do.
- Only our book has pictures of
naked people playing volleyball.
Oh, and here is someone
who needs no introduction.
- Major Charles Emerson Winchester,
Major Burnham.
- Ah
Ah, Major Burnham.
This is indeed a pleasure.
Well, now that you two have met,
uh, we have to be off.
- We're taking our dog to dinner.
- Taking our dog
- Do that.
- Dinner.
I hope you don't mind.
Colonel Potter said
it'd be all right if I bunked with you surgeons.
Well, a-actually surgery
is my subspecialty.
My real forte is diseases
of the aged-but-not-yet-retired.
So, who do you like in
the next Saddler-Pep bout?
- You're talking about boxing, right?
- Ah, it's in my blood.
Yes, sir, they're two of the finest
featherweights who ever laced on gloves.
Think it'll be a K.
O.
, or will
they go the distance there?
You know, General Torgeson's
a big boxing fan.
- No kidding?
- Talks about it all the time.
Me too.
Graziano, Schmeling, Louis.
All like gods to me.
The general drives me nuts
with that fight junk.
Course there's more to life
than just the squared circle, you know.
Like sitting around a campfire
just outside beautiful Butte
eating beans after a hard day of sheep ranching.
[Clicks Tongue, Whistles]
I've never done that.
I'm from Detroit.
You know, I've always hankered
to ride the range in a Buick.
So tell me.
- What do you think is-is the key to the 4077?
- Turnover.
As fine a place as this is, it's, uh it's time
to move on, discover new vistas.
I think my surgical skills would take
a giant leap if I were to find a new locale.
What about Pierce and Hunnicutt?
They've been here even longer.
Anybody needs a change, they do.
- That's very interesting.
I have always
- Excuse me, gentlemen.
I was supposed to meet Colonel Potter
here for dinner.
Have you seen him?
- No, I haven't.
- Oh, then he must be eating on Sophie.
Oh, that's his horse.
He loves to spend as many hours
in the saddle as he can.
It's a habit
from his old cavalry days.
He's been doing it
since, oh, 1918.
I'd better go check.
He loves an
after dinner nap and sometimes he falls off.
Your colonel seems to have
some rather strange habits.
Well, I don't think there's
anything too unusual about him.
She's a might peculiar though.
Enough of this idle chitchat.
As I was saying
Stop this! Stop this eating at once!
It is written in the sacred testaments
of our forefathers and foremothers
that on the fourth day
of the new moon
we shall abstain
from all our worldly pleasures.
[Gasps]
Spam!
It is the devil's work!
[Plate Clatters]
Praise our holy leader.
Sh-boom.
Now then, I'm sure
General Torgeson would agree
that I have
been at the fair too long.
- Let me elucidate.
You see
- This looks delicious! Oh.
- [B.
J.
] Don't you just love it rare?
- Oh, yeah.
Isn't that the collar
that was on the dog?
- Yeah.
Pass the pepper, will ya?
- There you go.
Sure.
- How can you?
- Are you kiddin' me? In Korea, dog's a delicacy.
- When in Rome
- Here, you want some?
- Mmm
- Oh, smell this.
Just smell it.
- Mmm.
- Isn't that great?
Oh!
[Groans]
Padre, I'm comin' down with
a case of Rembrandt's elbow.
What say we knock off for now and toss down
a few toddies at the "O" Club?
No! I mean Well, I'm sorry
to be such a harsh taskmaster
but they need this painting
pretty R.
Q.
S.
- Huh?
- That's Latin for P.
D.
Q.
[Mutters, Groans]
seven, 38
- Major, another drink?
- Thank you, I'm fine.
- Then how 'bout a little leftover bowwow chow?
- Captain, please
We put it in a doggie bag.
Docs, a patient just came in.
He's in
real bad shape.
They need you in pre-op.
- Aw.
- Oh, for crying out loud!
No, this is what I've been waiting for.
Do you mind if I tag along?
- Nah.
You might as well.
- Don't you hate it when they come
in the middle of happy hour?
[Imitates Bomb Falling, Explosion]
Ah.
Uh-oh.
That looks pretty bad, Hawk.
I'm afraid we're gonna have to resect.
Resect? Aw, geez.
That takes forever.
I got a date tonight.
You can't walk out on an operation
because of a lousy date.
- It's with Gwen.
- Well, goody for you.
You expect me to do this myself?
All right, all right, all right.
We'll pack him
off for now.
We'll finish him in the morning.
- Igor, get him into O.
R.
- Right.
Ah, what the hell.
I got laundry to do anyway.
[Hawkeye]
Scrub, scrub, scrub.
That's all we ever do.
I've never understood why washing
your hands is so important
- when the minute you're finished,
you cover 'em up with gloves.
- Yeah.
I mean, what is that?
It's too late, Captains.
We've lost him.
- The patient is dead?
- No.
We just don't know where he is.
How could you lose a patient
between pre-op and O.
R.
?
- We tried a shortcut.
- I just can't work with these people.
- What are you doing?
- [B.
J.
] I'm going back to our tent.
But there's a wounded man around here
someplace.
You gotta find him, get him into O.
R.
!
Sorry, we're in medicine,
not transportation.
You're gonna get in a lot
of trouble for this, Pierce.
Uh-uh! Until he hits the operating table,
we're not responsible.
Igor, this is on your head! You go look for him.
If you find him, let me know.
- I'll be in the laundry room.
- I'll be incommunicado.
- That does it!
- What's the matter?
What's the matter? I always heard
this unit was a little strange
but at least when it came to medicine,
you were supposed to be thorough professionals.
I'm chief surgeon here.
Are you tryin'
to tell me I don't know my job?
Where's your compassion,
your humanity?
What happened
to the Hippocratic oath?
- Oh, ho, ho, ho.
You get him?
- Oh.
I'll bet he's one of those guys that's seen
all the Dr.
Kildare movies.
Look, Burnham, this is not some
antiseptic stateside hospital.
This is war.
This is hell.
It stinks.
It's filthy.
- Can I borrow your cologne tonight?
- Mm-hmm.
- Trade you for a couple of clothespins.
- I got a couple of clothespins
## [Singing]
- Greens, greens
- ## [Humming]
- Greens
- Rest assured General Torgeson's
gonna hear about all of this
- the minute I get back.
- You're leaving now?
- Yes, I am!
- Oh.
Wait Wait a minute.
[Exhales]
These are yours.
Thanks.
If you'd like, I'll wash 'em
and send 'em down to you.
[Cackles]
[Man On P.
A.
]
Attention all personnel.
Incoming wounded.
Drop your flasks
and grab your masks.
[Chattering]
[Vehicles Approaching]
Sorry, Major.
You have to move yourjeep.
We have to use this area for triage.
- Okay.
- Come on!
Hey, didn't I just see you
[Chattering]
[Hawkeye] Give me some more retraction
and pack it down with lap sponges.
[B.
J.
] Give me suction
in the pericardium.
Just when you think everything's going
your way, the war drops in without knocking.
Hey, we can hold our heads high.
We gave it our worst.
[Charles] If you'd care
to step over here, Major.
This Very difficult diagnosis.
The patient's
wounds are not what they first appear to be.
Seems to be
a lot of that going around.
Kocher clamp.
Play your cards right, you could be
head nurse at a new MASH unit.
The chief surgeon and I
are on a same-name basis.
[Potter] Let's get this bleeding stopped
pronto.
Klinger! Another unit.
Way ahead of you, sir.
I already got it.
The old man really runs
a tight ship, doesn't he?
Long as he has a week to rest up,
he's great one day in a row.
But you don't understand.
Burnham saw how perfect I was in there.
- Maybe I could plead temporary sanity.
- Oh, Klinger.
You're crazy.
They don't want you for a new MASH.
They want the colonel.
Take him, leave him.
What's the difference?
- Without the colonel, I'm just
another religious fanatic.
- [Scoffs]
Let me say this one last time
right before I say good-bye.
It's me who'll be going.
They need a chief surgeon.
Unless they want the best surgeon,
in which case it's me who's going.
Your humility is just one of the things
I'm gonna miss about you.
Who cares? The point is they're breaking
us up and we'll never be the same again.
- Yeah.
- Uh
I just told Colonel Potter
and Major Winchester
and I want to tell the rest of you.
You're terrific.
You can all be
proud of yourselves.
- Oh, go suck a combat boot.
- Margaret!
- Took the boot right out of my mouth.
- That's tellin' 'em.
- I'm not going anywhere, and neither is he, sir.
- I admire your loyalty, son.
- Now if I just knew what you were talking about.
- Excuse me, Colonel.
I think some of your people may have
misconstrued what I'm doing here.
- Maybe I'd better explain it.
- Yes, Major.
Please do.
- Plain and simply, we're forming a new MASH
- [Stammering] MASH?
- To serve our needs closer to the front.
- [Whimpers]
We'd always heard this organization
marched to a different drummer.
Well, I suppose you gotta be crackers
not to go nuts in a pressure cooker like this.
We had all the suspense
we need in O.
R.
Why don't you drop the other shoe
and get it over with?
- The other shoe?
- The one you're gonna use
to kick somebody out of here
into the new MASH.
What? You're crazier
than I thought.
We'd never split up the 4077.
It's hard enough in this army
to find something that works.
Once you do, you don't mess with it.
- Pulling somebody outta here'd
be like breaking up the Yankees.
- Sh-boom be praised!
Now you see? Let this be a lesson to you.
Never believe idle gossip.
Especially when it comes
from an idle gossip.
I was only here observing how this organization
runs so we could copy it, not rip it apart.
Well, that certainly will be
a comfort to my disciples.
Colonel, aren't you relieved to find out
the real reason he was here?
Hell, I knew it all along, but I wasn't
about to let you folks in on it.
First thing you know, you'd all go off
half-cocked and act like a bunch of jackasses.
- [All Protesting]
- Oh, sir.
I'm surprised at you.
- [Chattering]
- Come on.
Let's see it, Colonel.
Defrock the painting.
Okay, okay.
You're all familiar
with Whistler's Mother.
Now say how do
to Potter's Father.
Oh, that's great.
Look, Leo.
Oh, holy mackerel.
That's really something.
- Father, this should be on a stained-glass window.
- Or a stamp.
Can't even see
where the little numbers were.
Will you yahoos can the comments?
Now tell me the truth, Padre.
You think this'll make it
in the holy walk of fame?
- Oh, it It won't be going to Philadelphia.
- Oh.
The archdiocese decided an esplanade
would be a bit too showy
so they're going with wallet-sized photos
on a bulletin board.
I understand perfectly, Padre.
Being a pinup ain't proper for a priest.
Actually it's all for
the better, Colonel, because
You worked so *** it,
l-I'd like you to keep it.
Why thank you, Padre.
I'm gonna put it right here.
And with you always
keepin' an eye on me
I'll have to stay
on the straight and narrow.
- [Chuckles]
- I find your trust in me very moving.
I can't deceive you any longer.
There's something I must confess.
- Oh!
- What is it, Padre?
Uh, l-I think it would
look better over there.