MAS*H – Bananas, Crackers, and Nuts

By Reggie's Take on February 16, 2013

After an unending stream of wounded, Hawkeye and Trapper demand some R&R in Tokyo. Things are made worse when Henry leaves to go to a medical conference. Knowing that acting commander Frank will not give them the R&R they so want.

Hawkeye decides to pretend to be insane to try to get a few days off despite Frank’s prejudice. He rejects a proposition from an attractive nurse, eats a plate of ostensibly human liver from a North Korean, and reacts violently when Frank touches the plate. Trapper tells Frank that Hawkeye is losing it, and that he (Trapper) should take him to Tokyo for R&R.

Instead of getting R&R, Frank and Marget call in a psychiatrist, Captain Sherman (Stuart Margolin), who examines Hawkeye, who still doesn’t drop the act. He messes with Sherman’s head, even telling him he has a crush on Frank.

Henry returns, shocked to learn what’s been going on. Sherman wants Hawkeye to get actual psychiatric help, and Frank and Margaret start going along with it, figuring this is a chance to get rid of Hawkeye once and for all, referring to Pierce as “Poor Hawkeye–poor, sick Hawkeye.”

When informed of this, Hawkeye reveals it was all an act, but Capt. Sherman won’t listen.

Radar talks to Sherman plants ideas in his mind that Margaret, who has rebuffed all of Sherman’s past advances, has the hots for him. Meanwhile, Trapper switches signs on Margaret’s tent, leading Sherman to believe it is the VIP tent.

After Sherman returns and settles in Margaret’s cot, Trapper switches the signs back. When Margaret comes back and starts undressing, Sherman excitedly launches himself at her and drags her onto the cot.

Margaret screams out and various members of the camp rush in, making it appear that Sherman was attempting to rape Margaret. Sherman flees the unit that night and Hawkeye is allowed to stay

__________________________________________________

Season 1 DVD
Episode 7 / Disc 1
Air Date: 11/05/72

__________________________________________________
Quote:

Maj. Frank Burns: [Hawkeye is elaborately eating while in surgical garb] What’s this funny business?

Capt. Pierce: There’s nothing funny to me, Frank. I happen to be very serious about this delicious piece of liver.

Maj. Frank Burns: Where’d you get liver? They’re serving hamburger.

Capt. Pierce: You can’t have any.

Maj. Frank Burns: Fine. But where did you get it?

Capt. Pierce: From the North Korean.

Maj. Frank Burns: North Korean? What North Korean?
[beat]
Maj. Frank Burns: You mean the one that…

Capt. Pierce: The one who croaked!

[Frank moves forward and moves the plate slightly to get a better look]

Capt. Pierce: [outraged] You touched my plate! You’re not sterile! You’ve ruined my liver! Ruined it! And we’re all out of North Koreans!

[Trapper moves forward and slaps Hawkeye across the face]

Capt. Pierce: I don’t think I needed that.

Capt. McIntyre: Radar, take him back to the Swamp and make sure he takes the BLUE pills.

Cpl. O’Reilly: Yes, sir.

Capt. Pierce: [to Frank] Flithy liver thief!