M*A*S*H (season 1)

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M*A*S*H (1972-1983) was an American television series, airing on CBS, about a team of doctors and nurses stationed at a fictional U.S. Army hospital (unit number 4077) in Korea, during the Korean War in 1950-53. The series spanned 251 episodes and lasted almost four times as long as the war which served as its setting. The series was based on the 20th Century-Fox film M*A*S*H (an acronym for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital), a big hit of 1970 which was based in turn on the book of the same name.

M*A*S*H the Pilot[edit]

[first lines] [Trapper drives a golf ball, which sets off an explosion in the mine field.]

Trapper: Fore!

[Radar stops in mid-football practice to look out over the hills]

Radar: Here they come!
Spearchucker' Jones: I don't hear nothin'.
Radar: Wait for it.
Hawkeye: [writing to his father] You said I sounded a bit callous in my last letter Dad. Let me see if I can put things in a better way. At this particular Mobile Army Hospital, we are not concerned with the ultimate reconstruction of the patient.We care only about getting the kid out of here alive enough for someone else to put on the fine touches. We work fast and we're not dainty. We try to play par surgery on this course. Par is a live patient.

[Everyone has just come out of a long OR session.]
Margaret Houlihan: [angrily] You're dismissed.
Hawkeye: Thanks, Mother. We've gotta get up early, anyway, and fix MacArthur's hernia.

Hawkeye: Sorry, baby.
Maragaret Houlihan: Major to you!
Hawkeye: Sorry, Major baby.
Hawkeye: That's a woman all over.
Trapper: Best place for them to be.

Hawkeye: Hey, Ho-Jon, come here. I got a letter from Dean Lodge.
Trapper: Is that a good place to stay?

Hawkeye: Henry, you have no idea what it's like sharing a tent with a guy who thinks he's all twelve disciples!

Hawkeye: Ya know we gotta do it someday. Throw away all the guns and invite all the jokers from the north and the south in here to a cocktail party... Last man standing on his feet at the end wins the war!

Hawkeye: What does everybody want here? What do these people want more than anything else?
Trapper: To go home or to Tokyo, whichever comes first.
Hawkeye: What do they really want?
Trapper: Sex!
Hawkeye: Ah!
Trapper: Except for those baseball perverts.

Trapper: You want to raffle off a nurse?
Hawkeye: Is that what I said?

Frank Burns: [spotting Hawkeye browsing through his personal shelf] What are you doing up there?
Hawkeye: I just wanted to borrow your Bible, Frank.
Frank Burns: Since when are you two interested in the Bible?
Trapper: I peeked at the end, Frank. The Devil did it.

[simultaneously] Radar/ Henry Blake: Yes Sir?/ Radar.
Henry Blake: Don't do that!
Radar: Yes sir, you wanted to see me sir?
Henry Blake: Yes, but let me say I want to see you before I see you.
Radar: Yes sir, you wanted to see these? [pushing sheaf of papers to Henry]
Henry Blake: How do you know that?
Radar: That's why you called me.
Henry Blake: Oh yeah.
Radar: [reaching for different papers] You wanted me to take these sir?
Henry Blake: [absently] Yeah.

Hawkeye: [describing Lt. Dish] a girl with a face that doesn’t quit. A girl with so much body she should be continued on the next girl.
Lt. Dish: Hawkeye I'm trying to be faithful. How many times must I tell you I'm engaged?
Hawkeye: I'm engaged too, think of me as a dress rehearsal.
Lt. Dish: A girl can only take so much.
Hawkeye: Are we anywhere near that part yet?
[Margaret and Frank are watching Hawkeye and Maggie Dish through binoculars]
Margaret Houlihan: Sickening!
Frank Burns: Animals!

Frank Burns: Your conduct in there was not only unbecoming an officer, it was equally reprehensible as a medical man!
Hawkeye: Frank, I happen to be an officer only because I foolishly opened an invitation from President Truman to come to this costume party. And as for my ability as a doctor, if you seriously question that, I'm just gonna have to challenge you to a duel.
Trapper: Swords or pistols?
Hawkeye: I was thinking specimen bottles at twenty paces.

[watching Henry Blake leave the 4077th by helicopter]
Hawkeye: What's this?
Radar: Weekend passes for the raffle.
Hawkeye: When did he sign these?
Radar: When he thought he was ordering a ton of ice cream. Fudge ripple.

Lt. Dish: You still haven't told me how I get out of going away with the winner. Why do I have the funny feeling it's going to be you.
Hawkeye: You don't trust me?
Lt. Dish: Not since the last time I found you hiding in my sleeping bag.

To Market, To Market[edit]

Henry: I betcha don't know what kind of wood this is.
Radar: It's oak.
Henry: Nope - it's oak.

Trapper: Hurry up, the truck will be here soon.
[Radar looks up as if he hears something and moves faster]
Hawkeye: I think we just passed soon!

Requiem for a Lightweight[edit]

Henry: Whatever it is, even if the answer is "yes," it's "no."

Radar O'Reilly: General Barker's fighter just pulled in, looks real big.
"Trapper" John Mcintyre: (Sounding scared) How big?
Radar: If he wanted to, he could be a platoon. Looks kinda mean.
"Trapper" John Mcintyre: Mean?
Radar O'Reilly:[makes a face to show what he looks like]

(Discussing Trapper's opponent)
Radar: A guy told me that he was crossing the road, and this jeep came too close to him. He punched it.
Trapper: He punched a jeep?
Radar: He knocked it out.
Trapper: Hawkeye, this guy knocks out jeeps!
Hawkeye: Showboat.

(Hawkeye takes out a bottle)
Frank: That's ether.
Hawkeye: A little louder Frank, the cook didn't hear you.

Chief Surgeon Who?[edit]

General Barker: What are you doing, Corporal?
Radar: Doing, sir?
Barker: D-O-I-N-G! What are you doing?
Radar: I'm listening to you spell "doing", sir.
General Barker: Doesn't anybody ever sleep in this outfit?!
Radar: Only on duty, sir.

[in shorts, T-shirt, and robe]
Hawkeye: Would I do anything to disgrace this uniform?

General Barker: Nurse, is everyone in this outfit crazy?
Nurse Ginger: Everybody who's sane is, sir.

Henry Blake: Sir, Major Burns will probably continue to complain about the promotion.
General Barker: May I make a suggestion about Major Burns?
Henry Blake: Yes, sir.
General Barker: Give him a high colonic and send him on a ten-mile hike.
Trapper: With full pack.
General Barker: Good touch.

The Moose[edit]

Hawkeye: I'm gonna do something about this--I'm going to Henry.
Spearchucker: Henry? Our Henry?
Trapper: I thought you said you were going to do something about this.

Trapper: [about the Swamp] Somebody sneaked in here and committed a neatness!

Yankee Doodle Doctor[edit]

Hawkeye: Three hours ago, this man was in a battle. Two hours ago, we operated on him. He's got a fifty-fifty chance. We win some, we lose some. That's what it's all about. No promises. No guaranteed survival. No "saints in surgical garb". Our willingness, our experience, our technique are not enough. Guns and bombs and anti-personnel mines have more power to take life than we have to preserve it. Not a very happy ending to a movie. But then again, no war is a movie.

[An army film unit is making a documentary at the camp.]
Frank: [Reading from the film script] "...from the strong, capable hands of a Yankee Doodle Doctor."
Trapper: [laughing] A Yankee Doodle --
Hawkeye: [singing] Stuck a feather in his nurse...
Hawkeye and Trapper: ...and called her macaroni!

[In the film, Hawkeye plays the "Yankee Doodle Doctor" as a Groucho Marx-esque type character, and Trapper as a Harpo Marx-esque character. The first scene shows Radar as a patient being unloaded from an ambulance.]
Nurse: Doctor, can you give him a hand?
Yankee Doodle Doctor: I'd rather give you one!
Radar: Are you the Yankee Doodle Doctor?
Yankee Doodle Doctor: I certainly am!
Trapper: *HONK!*HONK!*
[Scene cuts to the Mess tent everyone watching the film with Hawkeye and Trapper laughing at people]
Radar: Gosh, am I glad they brought me here!
Yankee Doodle Doctor: Wait a minute, have you got a reservation?
Radar: A reservation?!
Yankee Doodle Doctor: I'm afraid we're all booked up through New Years!
Trapper: *HONK!*
Radar: But, Doctor!
Yankee Doodle Doctor: I'm sorry, kid. You should've booked ahead. Come to think of it, you should've booked the rest of the body as well!

Hawkeye: Hold it (puts his ear to Radar's stomach) I think I just found my wristwatch. Either that or he's giving birth to an alarm clock.

Bananas, Crackers and Nuts[edit]

Hawkeye: I had a dream last night that I was asleep and I dreamed it while I was awake!

Henry: This is the army! No one can do the best they can!

Cowboy[edit]

Radar: Sir, you want to sign this?
Blake: I don't want to sign anything, you sign it! [Radar signs]
Radar: Sir, would you sign that I signed?
Blake: [signs] I'll sign that.

Trapper: Does Henry have an enemy?
Hawkeye: Doesn't sound like the work of a friend. I think we better keep an eye on him.
Trapper: Now?
Hawkeye: I don't think he's got a later.

Trapper: Come on, Frank! Outta the way!
Frank: You're not going anywhere in that, McIntyre. This jeep is the official property of the US Army in general and Col. Blake in particular and as such is to be used for the official duties thereof and nothing else.
Trapper: Frank, you're sucking around to become a hit and run case. Move!
Frank: Over my dead body.
Trapper: Great idea!

Henry, Please Come Home[edit]

Radar: They aren't gonna like this.
Frank: I didn't come here to be liked.
Radar: You certainly came to the right place.

Hawkeye: Do you mind if we swim through?

Frank: I assure you, all goldbricking that went on here under Colonel Blake is going to stop. Under my command, life is going to be a different kettle of fish.
Radar: Are you sure you're in the right branch of the service, Sir?

I Hate A Mystery[edit]

Henry: I assume you've all read my notice concerning the recent crime wave.
Hawkeye: I would've read it, but the notice was stolen.

Hawkeye: You know, I never hit a woman.
Burns: You lay one finger on Margaret...
Hawkeye: I was talking about you, Frank.

Germ Warfare[edit]

Frank: I'm only paranoid because everyone's against me!

Hawkeye: Ghouls? That's not a nice thing to call us vampires.

Dear Dad[edit]

PA Announcement: Attention, the following personnel have volunteered to go on a ten-mile fitness hike. [Silence]

PA Announcement: Due to the number of people bored last Sunday, next Sunday will be canceled.

Edwina[edit]

Hawkeye: Edwina, may I kiss you?
Edwina: Is your mouth insured?

Hawkeye: Did you want to say something, Henry, or were you just hoping for a free tonsillectomy?

Love Story[edit]

Radar: [referring to a book Hawkeye is holding] War AND Peace?
Trapper: Well, Tolstoy was very flexible. He went either way.

Anderson: I'll tell you how I feel about ol' Johann Sebastian.
Radar: Now that's highly significant.
Anderson: I haven't said anything yet.
Radar: That's OK. I have confidence in you, Lieutenant.

Tuttle[edit]

Radar: [referring to Henry, after Frank and Margaret have asked to see him] I'm afraid he's doing some very important sleeping for the army right now.

Trapper: [while Hawkeye is working on Tuttle's profile] You should write fiction.
Hawkeye: You should read my file.

[Following Tuttle's eulogy]
Trapper: Great work. There wasn't a dry eye in the whole camp.
Hawkeye: Tuttle always brought out the best in me.
Radar: Hey, I just got one question. Where'd you guys get the dog-tags and the parachute?
Trapper: Oh, that was Major Murdock.
Radar: Who?
Hawkeye: Who's Major Murdock?
Trapper: You know. Tall, skinny fella. Tuttle's replacement.
Hawkeye: [realizing] Oh, yeah! I had breakfast with him this morning.

The Ringbanger[edit]

Margaret: You're drunk!
Henry: [slurring] That's a dirty lie. And I intend to press charges. The minute I'm sober.

Henry: [drunk, holding a gun] Don't move, Korea, this is a stick-up.

Sometimes You Hear the Bullet[edit]

Henry: Look, all I know is what they taught me at command school. There are certain rules about a war. Rule number one is young men die. And rule number two is doctors can't change rule number one.

Hawkeye: Wendell, another word for "gooks" is "people."

Dear Dad, Again[edit]

Hawkeye: [thinking as he writes] I've never put much stock in ESP, but if it is possible for one person to read another person's mind, Radar has that ability. The little fink.
Radar: [walking past] Is that a nice thing to say?

Trapper: What a mess. Stomach, kidney, liver...
Hawkeye: What is that, an organ recital?

The Longjohn Flap[edit]

Hawkeye: [to Henry] We're here to report a pair of missing Longjohns.
Trapper: [also to Henry] Which we own and you are wearing.
Henry: Can you identify them?
Trapper: I've got a better idea. How about you identify them? [Trapper covers Henry's eyes] Without looking.
Henry: Well they're long...
Hawkeye: And they're johns... that's them all right.

Frank: [to Klinger] The next time I see you, I wanna see a shine on those high heels!

Trapper: [Upon seeing Frank in the longjohns.] Look at what the giant rodent has on his body.
Hawkeye: Suppurating pustules, if there's any justice. [to Frank] Where'd you get those longjohns!
Frank: Wouldn't you like to know!
Hawkeye: [picks up empty gas can and prepares to swing at Frank.] Those are mine you hermaphroditic weasel!
Frank: Possession is 9/10 of the law, Pierce. And I'm sleeping with a loaded baseball bat under my pillow, so don't try anything!
Hawkeye: If I didn't think it would keep you warm, Frank, I'd come over there and beat you to a pulp. Say your prayers, Frank, or the tooth fairy may come and knock out all your teeth!

The Army-Navy Game[edit]

Colonel Hersh: You got any stethoscopes there?
Hawkeye: WE'RE A MEDICAL UNIT!!!

Radar: [seeing Klinger in a suit] Don't I know your sister?

Col. Blake: [coming outside looking for Radar, yelling] Radar?
Hawkeye: SHH!
Col. Blake: Who are you shushing?!? What are you doing out here in your stocking feet?!? You been at the still again, right?!?
Hawkeye: [whispering] I'm working on a bomb!
Col. Blake: What kind of a bomb?!?!
Hawkeye: [still whispering] An unexploded bomb!
Col. Blake: Oh! [whispering] THAT kind of bomb.

Hawkeye (after Henry's first loud megaphone message): One more yell like that and you and I will have interchangeable parts!

Trapper John: Psst! Psst!
Hawkeye: You spring a leak?

Trapper: The CIA has their own bomb?

Hawkeye: (with a stethoscope to the bomb) The ticker's very faint. Not the bomb's, mine. The bomb is ticking away loud and clear.

Sticky Wicket[edit]

[during a poker game in the Swamp]
Hawkeye: Can't you guys do that somewhere else?
Trapper: Why don't you do what you're doing somewhere else?
Hawkeye: I'm not doing anything!
Trapper: Well, you can do that anywhere, can't you?

Trapper: [during a poker game] My last hand was more like a foot.

Major Fred C. Dobbs[edit]

Frank: I'll write you every day--faithfully.
Margaret: You promise?
Frank: Just like I do my wife.

Henry: You know, Frank, as rough as it's been, I think I'll miss you.
Frank: Well it might not have come to this if you had had the backbone to maintain some discipline.
Henry: Well--so much for missing you.

Hawkeye: (to Radar) One more word and I'll nail your tongue to your nose.

Henry is in a very bad temper because a temporary toot filling is causing him pain:

Henry: (to Hawkeye and Trapper) I'm gonna do more than that. (Storms out office door, and then right back in) What am I doing? This is my office. You guys, get out!

Hawkeye: (to Trapper) The three basic emotions are greed, fear, and greed. Frank Burns is crazy for money, he married for money, he became a doctor for money. If there was money in dying, he's thrown himself under a truck."

After Frank tells Houlihan about gold in Korea which he heard from Hawkeye and Trapper John:

Margaret: (sispicious) I smell a rat… no, two rats.

Ceasefire[edit]

General Clayton: Henry, are you sitting down?
Henry: [stands up] No, sir.
Clayton: Maybe you better.
Henry: [sits down] Yes, sir.
Hawkeye: Is he giving you calisthenics over the phone?

Trapper: Call us if you need us.
Hawkeye: Yeah, but don't need us.

Showtime[edit]

Frank: Are you going over my head?
Hawkeye: No, just through the hole in it.

Henry: It's bad enough that she's having a baby and I can't be there with her!
Radar: Well, at least you were there for the important part.