Original Air Date: 1/5/74
Written by: Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks
Directed by: Don Weis
After a week in Tokyo, Henry returns with exciting news: he's in love!
Hawkeye and Trapper are dubious, and even more so when they see her picture, and see how young she is. But Henry is insistent, and worries what he's going to tell his wife Lorraine.
Hawkeye and Trapper tell him to let it go, but they get a better idea how serious he is when he tells them that the girl in question--a Miss Nancy Sue Parker--is coming to visit the 4077th!
Henry then begins to prepare for her visit, working out strenuously, dying his hair, and getting Radar to spiff up the V.I.P. tent. Hawkeye and Trapper continue to mock the whole thing, which irritates Henry. Radar, for his part, seems determined to keep reminding Henry about his wife back home.
Once Nancy Sue (Kathrine Baumann) arrives, Hawkeye and Trapper see what all the fuss is about--Nancy Sue is a well-built, bubbly cheerleader of a gal, who acts like she worships Henry and is very flirty with everyone she meets.
That night, they all meet up at the Officers Club, and everyone notices Nancy Sue. Frank and Hot Lips disapprove ("A married man fooling around with another woman!", Frank snorts), but are tersely polite to her.
After performing one of cheerleading routines, right there in the middle of the club, a patient of Hawkeye and Trapper's needs some medical assistance, but Henry steps in because Hawkeye has been drinking.
Hawkeye walks Nancy Sue home, and she goes from flirty to seductive, planting a big deep kiss on Hawkeye in her tent. Hawkeye, uncomfortable, breaks it off, and reminds her why she's here.
He meets up with Trapper, and tells him what happened. Trapper says Henry is on the phone with his wife, which causes them to run--not walk--into Henry's office.
But when they get there, they're relieved to see that Henry isn't breaking up with his wife. In fact, he's being a dutiful husband, agreeing to balance his wife's check book, even though he's on the other side of the world.
Radar steps in to say good night, and Henry points out that his wife was happy he called: "Which makes me wish I had."
Henry thanks Radar by saying that, tomorrow morning, they'll sleep in for fifteen minutes. Radar, all smiles, agrees.
The next day, Nancy Sue leaves, and Henry is polite but distant. As they all watch her drive off, Henry admits that, even though he couldn't wait for her to come, now he's glad she's gone.
Fun Facts: M*A*S*H was on an extraordinary streak of hot shows in the second season--nearly every episode around this point are classics, with virtually any extended dialogue scene between Henry, Hawkeye, and Trapper featuring a overload of killer jokes and quotable lines.
Actress Katharine Baumann later guest-starred on two episodes of Trapper John, M.D.--unfortunately not playing the same character!
Favorite Line: When Henry and Trapper are operating, Henry is going on and on about Nancy Sue, and even offers that even his wife Lorraine would probably like her.
Trapper, stunned, says: "Henry, step away from the ether."
6 comments:
"It's nice to be nice to the nice."
That's this episode, right?
Yep, that's the one.
Another bit of unrealty-Blake has already had at least two affairs {On one spisode of MASH} and the other for which he was blackmailed in "A Smattering of Intelligence" ....so why shouldn't he divorce his loving wife...????
If the actress played the same character on Trapper John MD, they'd have to age her about twenty years, no? TJMD took place in the present day, which is why Trapper himself is so much older, balding, and bears a striking resemblance to Pernell Roberts.
Kathy was absolutely adoreable in this episode. That's the marvelous thing about film (and recordings): they are able to preserve a moment, or series of them, for posterity. Kathy, of course, looks nothing like she did in the MASH episode. But thankfully, we'll always have her as she was then.
The role of Nancy was played by Kathy Lynn Baumann, former "Miss Ohio" who was 1st runner-up to "Miss America 1970." (Pageant held in September 1969.) She won both talent and swimsuit preliminary competitions. Associated Press pegged her to win the title after this double win, like the previous "Miss America" had accomplished.
Kathy used her pageant monies to study acting. She later appeared in numerous films and other television movies.
Her second career was realized later in life as "Baumann of Beverly Hills," specializing in exotic beaded hand bags and accessories.
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