M*A*S*H (MASH) s07e05 Episode Script

T409 - Our Finest Hour (2) b&w

[O.
R.
Chatter.]
Lori, take the temperature on that chest wound.
[Chattering.]
This is just the beginning of autumn in Korea and already there's a real chill in the air.
Before winter even arrives, the temperature will dip below zero.
And all that after a summer of unbearable heat.
If you were going to hold a war this is probably the most brutal climate on Earth in which to do it.
- Uh, Commanding Officer - Commanding Officer - Quartermaster Corps.
- Quartermaster Corps.
- Uh, Sir - Sir.
Seoul.
- Seoul.
Sir.
- Seoul.
Sir.
I gratefully acknowledge the receipt - of your latest shipment of supplies to our unit.
- [Repeating.]
The mosquito netting and the summer underwear were very much appreciated.
Oh, boy! I am wearing so many pair of cotton drawers my thighs don't know each other anymore.
My thighs don't know each other anymore.
Don't tell him about my thighs.
- For What's the matter with you? - I'm sorry.
- Blow in my ear.
- What? I'm so cold, I think my pilot's gone out.
[Man On p.
A.
.]
Attention.
Due to shortage of oil and wood tonight's movie will be burned at 1800 hours.
Where did you get that wood, soldier? My sister sent it to me, sir.
Oh.
You're 5 miles from the front, on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and the O.
R.
Sessions must be a source of great tension.
- What do you do to relax? - "Relax"? You do get a chance to relax, don't you? Well, for relaxation, I collapse.
And I like to stay in shape, so, uh so I drink a lot.
That's the That's the really big sport here.
Poker.
I know that may sound very strange, but poker relaxes me.
There's nothing more satisfying than shearing the flock, as it were.
Of course, it all goes to the orphans.
Well, almost all of it.
Music is my sanctuary.
Classical.
It reminds me that there is still some grace and culture left in the world.
Oh, in general, I'd say with a lot of horseplay taking out your frustrations on other people.
You know, good clean American fun.
[Laughing.]
I'm sor [Laughing Hysterically.]
[Both Laughing.]
- [Margaret Yelps.]
- [Laughing.]
Frank, I'm glad you got here.
You wanna hear something really wild? Come here.
[High-pitched Moan.]
I won't lie to you.
L-I've I've established some wonderful temporary relationships with a lot of the nurses here.
I like to think of myself as a social director of the heart.
- Hawkeye? - Hmm? Um, tell me the truth.
Do you respect me? Do I respect the flag? Apple pie? Hamburgers? The loyalty of a fine dog? That's all I wanted to know.
What am I doing? What am I doing? - What am I doing? - Whatever it is, I approve.
You're married, madam.
You're a married madam.
Why don't I go away? - I am not married.
- You're not married? - Never have been.
- Move over, Lieutenant.
Does every new nurse fall in love with you here? - No.
Only the ones with taste.
- [Giggles.]
- Do you think I have any? - I don't know.
Let me taste you.
- [Gunshot.]
- [Explosion In Distance.]
- [Gunfire In Distance.]
- Hawkeye, that makes me crazy.
My lips were made by Stradivarius.
Sickening.
Animals.
Animals.
What do you do to relax around here? "Relax"? I don't dare.
If I do, somebody'll think I like it here.
Are you a guy or a hairy broad with a deep voice? I'm all man, Clyde.
The clothes are a dodge.
- A what? - If I keep wearin' women's clothes maybe they'll give me a Section Eight and send me home.
- Oh.
How long you been at this? - Two years, April 22.
Klinger, you've asked for my advice.
[Inhales.]
Now, I realize how badly you want out of the army.
Yes, sir.
But it's, uh, my considered opinion that no one's going to believe that you're pregnant.
Colonel Potter, sir! Corporal Klinger.
I'm Section Eight, head to toe.
I'm wearing a Warner bra.
I play with dolls.
My last wish is to be buried in my mother's wedding gown.
I'm nuts.
I should be out.
Horse hockey.
- Klinger! - Sir! How dare you wear that hat while in uniform! It's spring, sir! - Now what? - Caught this man walking into the stream seven miles down the road, Colonel.
I would've made it if they hadn't nailed me.
Had it all figured downstream to the Inchon River then out to the Sea ofJapan and then to the Golden Gate! - You'd have drowned.
- No chance, sir! - [Air Hissing.]
- [Yelps.]
[Yelling.]
Oh, boy! Watch out! Got this in mail call today, sir.
- What is it? - A letter from my mother, sir.
- "Dear Son" - You obviously haven't sent her a recent picture.
"I hate to bother you in the middle of a war "but I have some terrible news.
"Your father is very sick.
- [Sighs.]
- "We know your colonel has a good heart "and surely he'll let you come home for your father's funeral or his 65th birthday, whichever comes first.
" Uh-huh.
Here we go.
Father dying, right? Yes, sir.
[Sniffles.]
Father dying last year.
Mother dying last year.
Mother and father dying.
Mother, father and older sister dying.
Mother dying and older sister pregnant.
Here's an oldie but a goody.
Half of the family dying, other half pregnant.
Klinger, aren't you ashamed of yourself? Yes, sir.
I don't deserve to be in the army.
He's the only sane one here.
It's the rest of us who are crazy.
None of us wants to be here.
I don't wanna be here.
Radar doesn't wanna be here.
The doctors, the nurses certainly the wounded don't wanna be here.
But we've got to do our best.
People who don't have a stomach for this don't belong here.
You're right.
Let's all go home.
- [Chattering.]
- Colonel, I am requesting that you officially and formally approve my transfer.
Mother and Dad, I will put this as eloquently and succinctly as possible.
Get me the hell out of here! - [Playing Piano: Up-tempo.]
- A chaplain in the army has a collar on his neck If you don't listen to him you'll all wind up in heck Oh, I don't want no more of army life Gee, Mom I wanna go home Oh, the surgeons in the army they say we're mighty bright We work on soldiers through the day and nurses through the night Oh, I don't want no more of army life Gee, Mom I wanna go home Some guys like the army I think that it's a mess If it's so damn terrific how come I wear a dress Oh, I don't want no more of army life Gee, Mom, I wanna go but they won't let me go Gee, Mom I wanna go home [All Cheering.]
[Announcer.]
More men and more equipment continue to pour into war-torn Korea a grim reminder that the conflict now grinding into its third year, is far from over.
Battle-weary foot soldiers trudge through the ravaged countryside reluctant witnesses to the awesome devastation.
How has being a part of all this the war changed you? I'm very impressed now with the terrible fragility of the human body and the, uh the unbelievable resiliency of the human spirit.
And it's made me very, very angry.
Well, it's allowed me to work fairly closely without becoming contaminated with people of vastly divergent points of view.
I've learned more about myself and and how much I really care about people.
Let's face it, Major.
You don't trust us.
And do you trust me? You act like I'm the enemy.
All right.
If I had asked your permission last night, what would you have done? - I would've said no.
- See? Not because it's against regulations, but because of the rotten way you've treated me.
The way we've treated you? What are you talking about? Did you ever show me any kind of friendship? Ask my help with a personal problem? Include me in one of your little bull sessions? Can you imagine what it feels like to [Voice Breaking.]
to walk by this tent and and hear you laughing and and know l I'm not welcome? Did you ever once ever offer me a lousy cup of coffee? We didn't think you'd accept.
Well, you were wrong.
L I feel as old as I'm ever gonna get older than I ever intended to be.
And, um, I really can't wait to go home.
When this is all over when there's no more reason for you to be here what memories will you take home with you? That's easy.
The face of every kid who's come through here.
But there must be other things you you will recall.
I don't know.
I don't think that you remember the bad stuff uh, as much as you think you will.
I think, uh I think I'll never forget the day I go home.
And, at the moment, I can't imagine it.
No memories.
I blot it out as it happens.
The people here at MASH.
They're like family.
No.
They are family.
Yes, family.
The little Korean children their smiles amidst all this despair.
All the good times.
That's what I'll remember.
I think there were three.
What these young people have their dedication their devotion almost, their high spirits has rubbed off on me.
I feel 10 years younger.
I'm a better doctor and, most important, I'm a better human being.
And, uh, I don't have to remember that.
It's part of me.
One day.
One very bad day.
- Colonel? - Yo.
Do you know what I found in this morning's mail? Now, that's a tough one.
Hum a few bars, will you, Radar? [Chuckling.]
You're goin' home.
- I'm goin' home? - You got all your points.
They're discharging you.
- Discharged? - To Tokyo, San Francisco, then home.
I'm goin' home.
I'm discharged.
I'm goin' I'm goin' home! [People Cheering, Applauding.]
- [Blows Whistle.]
- Company, ten-hut! Take it easy, will ya, Frank? And, uh, stuff that whistle someplace.
Does the colonel wish to review his troops? - No.
I just wanna say good-bye.
- Well, okay.
So long, Hawk.
I'm afraid just a handshake won't do it, Henry.
[Kiss, Kiss.]
Henry, that That suit is really you.
[Hawkeye.]
If you're Adolphe Menjou.
Gwen.
Klinger, that outfit might just get you that Section Eight.
I made it just for this occasion, sir.
Well, uh, so long, everybody.
So long and, uh, good luck.
- Henry.
- Huh? [Whispering, Indistinct.]
- Oh, you think I should? - Why not? Yeah, why not? [Cheering, Applauding.]
- [Blows Whistle.]
- [Bugle, Off-key.]
- [Chattering.]
- [Klinger.]
Whoo.
! It's all yours, Frank.
It's all yours, Frank.
- [Hawkeye.]
So long, Henry.
Good trip! - All right.
Take it easy, pal.
You behave yourself, or I'm gonna come back and kick your butt.
Yes, sir.
[Helicopter Lifting Off.]
[Helicopter Departing.]
[O.
R.
Chatter.]
[Trapper.]
Radar, put a mask on.
If that's my discharge, give it to me straight.
I can take it.
I have a message.
[Exhales.]
- Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake's plane - [O.
R.
Goes Silent.]
[Breathes Deeply.]
Was shot down over the Sea ofJapan.
It spun in.
There were no survivors.
- [Person Gasps.]
- [Doors Clatter.]
[Woman Sobs.]
[Sniffling.]
[Object Clatters To Floor.]
There's people here that suffer every day and, uh l I don't really wanna talk about this.
When the doctors cut into a patient and it's cold, you know, the way it is now, today steam rises from the body.
[Voice Trembling.]
And the doctor will will warm himself over the open wound.
[Exhales.]
Could anyone look on that and not feel changed? [Hawkeye's Voice.]
The wounded keep coming and coming.
The common denominator is blood.
It's all red.
And there's an awful lot of it leaking out around here.
- [O.
R.
Chatter.]
- [Explosion.]
I just don't know why they're shooting at us.
All we wanna do is bring them democracy and white bread.
Transplant the American dream freedom, achievement hyperacidity, affluence, flatulence technology, tension the inalienable right to an early coronary sitting at your desk while plotting to stab your boss in the back.
That's entertainment.
Hear you had to leave the O.
R.
This morning.
That's right.
I did.
- Somebody said you had to go outside and throw up.
- That's right.
- How come? - I've always wanted to barf on Ouijongbu and I just thought the time was ripe.
Wouldn't be anything else, would it? No, unless it was the fact that most of my blood came out of a scotch bottle.
I wouldn't know about that.
I'm not a doctor.
But I am, so I'm not allowed to be human.
Is that it? You walked out on a patient, and Major Winchester had to finish for you.
So? I'd have done the same for him if he was sick.
Well, a lotta people don't look at it like you were sick, Hawkeye.
A lotta people look up to you here.
They admire you, and they kind of feel like they wanna be like you.
And Gee, when you walk out on an operation they kinda feel like you let 'em down.
If they can't depend on you, they figure, well maybe there's no point in depending on anything.
Look, you can't lay all that on my shoulders.
- Don't you know how much this place stinks? - [Murmurs.]
Don't you know what it's like to stand day after day in blood? - [Exhales.]
- In the blood of children? I hate this place.
And if I can't stand up to it to your satisfaction then then the hell with it.
How dare you! The hell with your Iowa naiveté.
The hell with your hero worship and your teddy bear.
And while you're at it, the hell with you! Why don't you grow up, for cryin'out loud.
! I'm not here for you to admire.
I'm here to pull bodies out of a sausage grinder if possible, without going crazy, period! - [Helicopters Whirring.]
- Wounded.
- Klinger says, "A lot.
" - I don't care.
I really don't.
They'll keep coming whether I'm here or not.
Trapper went home.
They're still coming.
Henry got killed, and they're still coming.
Wherever they come from, they'll never run out.
- You serious? - Dead serious.
I've watched guys die almost every day.
Why didn't I ever cry for them? Because you're a doctor.
What the hell does that mean? I don't know.
If I had the answer, I'd be at the Mayo Clinic.
Does this place look like the Mayo Clinic? Look, all I know is what they taught me at command school.
There are certain rules about a war and rule number one is young men die.
And rule number two is doctors can't change rule number one.
There's no way to summarize what you've just seen and heard save to say that, God willing all these exceptional people will be going home one day.
Let us hope that neither they nor any others will ever have to assemble for such a purpose again.
Good night.
Good night.

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