Officers Only was the 15th episode of Season 2 of the TV series M*A*S*H, also the 39th overall episode of the series. Written by Ed Jurist and directed by Jackie Cooper, it originally aired on CBS-TV on December 22, 1973.
Synopsis[]
After saving the life of a General's son, Hawkeye and the rest of the 4077th are rewarded with their own Officers' Club. This causes some discontent when enlisted men are refused entry. When the General's son, who is an enlisted man, is denied entrance, Henry agrees to let the families of officers use the club. Hawkeye then proceeds to "adopt" all the enlisted men in camp.
Full episode summary[]
Trapper faces a difficult chest operation and summons an exhausted Hawkeye to assist in surgery. As they operate, Henry informs them they are working on Private Mitchell, the son of General Mitchell. Frank tries to horn in on the action (with Margaret's help) so he can take credit for working on Private Mitchell, but the captains tell him to butt out.
Meanwhile, Klinger introduces his latest section eight ploy: pregnancy. Henry is none too pleased with it, especially when General Mitchell suddenly shows up. However, his demeanor brightens when the General delivers him a crate of 12-year-old scotch as a token of his appreciation for saving his boy.
Mitchell wants to reward the doctors who saved his boy, so he grants Hawkeye and Trapper three days and nights in Tokyo. Henry feels less than rewarded when he has to field numerous calls of complaint about his captains from Tokyo businesses.
Hawkeye and Trapper return from R&R to find the newly constructed Officers’ Club, which Frank tells them was donated by General Mitchell (at his suggestion). Unfortunately, the Officers’ Club means just that: no enlisted personnel allowed - much to Frank's delight and the captains' chagrin. Radar and the other enlisted give Hawkeye and Trapper the cold shoulder, and they understand why, so they talk to Henry about lifting the restriction.
As Frank and Margaret enjoy a quiet drink (he's having a Shirley Temple, she's having a scotch old-fashioned without the fruit) in the club, Hawkeye and Trapper try to get them to sign a petition allowing enlisted personnel. Naturally, they refuse.
The Officers’ Club has its official opening that night with General Mitchell and his trusty sidekick, Captain Fox, in attendance, and everyone is decked out in their Class-A's. The General's son is brought in for the festivities, but Hawkeye reminds General Mitchell his son is not an officer and, therefore, not allowed entry.
Despite protests from Henry and Frank, General Mitchell agrees with Hawkeye, saying a custom is a custom. But Hawkeye suggests they make an exception and allow family members in the club. With Henry's concurrence, General Mitchell agrees, thus instituting a new policy. Hawkeye stands at the doorway and announces all his (enlisted) “family” who just happen to be waiting outside. These family members include Radar O’Reilly, “who’s been like a son to me", Corporal Klinger, "who’s been like a daughter", and other assorted "relatives", while those assembled start humming "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". Soon the club is overflowing with “family”.
In a closing scene not usually aired in syndication, the party seems to be winding down at the new "O-Club": Col. Blake and Nurse Watson are falling asleep in each others' arms; Radar and Nurse Kellye are happily dancing together; Klinger is slow-dancing with Nurse Gwen; and General Mitchell is dancing even slower with Margaret, much to Frank's chagrin, who has been steadily getting drunk on spiked Shirley Temples (thanks to Hawkeye and Trapper). When they encourage Frank when he wants to go punch the General, he passes out instead.
Research notes/Fun facts[]
- The closing credits list Ralph Grosh's character as "Captain's aid". This is a typographical error. Grosh's character is a captain who is a General's Aide.
- Mitchell's memory is still poor, for he doesn't seem to recognize Frank or Margaret when introduced to them in post-op. (They had pressed charges against Henry and met Mitchell at the disciplinary hearing in "The Trial of Henry Blake".)
- Margaret, apparently no longer her own #1 (see "Hot Lips and Empty Arms"), is back to her old ways of sucking up to generals and shamelessly promoting Frank.
Guest stars/Recurring cast[]
- Jamie Farr as Klinger
- Odessa Cleveland as Lieutenant Ginger Bayliss
- Robert F. Simon as Brigadier General Maynard Mitchell
- Sheila Lauritsen as Nurse Watson
- Clyde Kusatsu as Kwang Duk
- Robert Weaver as Private Gary Mitchell
- Ralph Grosh as General's aide (Captain Fox)
- Uncredited appearances by:
- Kellye Nakahara (dancing with Radar in the Officers' Club)
- Gwen Farrell (dancing with Klinger)
- Patricia Stevens
- Roy Goldman, Dennis Troy (among Hawkeye's "family" entering the O-Club at the end of the episode)
Gallery[]
