87. The Price of Tomato Juice
December 16, 1975 (G-519)
Written by: Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds
Directed by: Gene Reynolds
Guest Stars: Somebody as the Sergeant, possibly James Jeter but possibly not.
Semi-regulars: Jeff Maxwell, as Private - erm - Maxwell. William Christopher as Father Mulcahy.
Plot: When a can of tomato juice is sent to the camp by mistake, the Colonel likes it an awful lot. Radar tries to have Burns requisition some more so Potter can have it every morning. Burns won't approve the requisition unless he gets a pair of nylons for - ahem - a friend. The boys go to Klinger, but he won't part with his lucky pair unless he gets some time off in Seoul. Radar convinces the Colonel to let him go, and Potter phones General Barker in Seoul to ask him to keep the MPs off Klinger's back while he's there. While on the phone, the General asks for Hot Lips to join him in Seoul for the weekend, and she agrees, making Burns furious. He refuses to sign for the tomato juice, and things look grim, till the boys send a fake note to Hot Lips, pretending to be Burns proposing to her. Hot Lips changes her mind about going to Seoul, and Burns signs the tomato juice form in exchange for the nylons. Klinger gets sent to Seoul in Hot Lips's place. When the tomato juice arrives, it turns out the Colonel is actually allergic to it. Klinger returns from Seoul where he had a wonderful time with General Barker.
Glitches: BJ's coffee cup changes position between the shots. Margaret says that the flowers are anemones, when they are quite clearly common-or-garden daisies.
Great Lines: Colonel Potter: 'I've got a soft spot for Klinger. He looks a little like my son. And he dresses a lot like my wife.'
The Sergeant, about Klinger dressed as Hot Lips: 'She looks like she needs a shave!' Hawkeye: 'She's been on duty all day.'
The Klinger Collection: His pink housecoat with a red hat. For going to Seoul with the general, a mauve dress with a furry white coat and a jeweled tiara.
Notes: Colonel Potter was once stationed at Camp Dix.
Comments: Another of the tit-for-tat genre, slightly different because the desired end of the process actually comes to pass. Hot Lips looks really rather schmick in her dress uniform. A good ensemble performance from everyone.
Previous episode
Next episode
Back to the Virgin's Guide to M*A*S*H main page
Back to episode listings