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##[Margaret Singing]
[Water Running]
##[Continues]
## [Humming]
[Man On P.
A.
] Sorry, folks, but we're having
a surprise medical convention
in the compound, on the double.
- [Chattering]
- [Panting]
[Groans]
Shoulder wound.
Hang a pint, Goldilocks.
- Is that all? It's freezing.
- [Potter] Hunnicutt, over here.
Get him prepped.
And stay away from my porridge.
Pretty bad fracture.
I'm giving you something for the pain.
- I just took a little shrapnel.
That's all.
I'll be okay.
- Uh-huh.
Get him into pre-op
and keep that leg immobilized.
Eiffel didn't use
that much metal in his tower.
Hey, Maloney, you okay?
I'll be fine, Lieutenant.
How about you?
Doc says I skinned my knee.
It's no big deal.
- How you feeling, son?
- No problem with me, Doc.
Just make sure they take extra good care
of Lieutenant Collins.
- He saved our butts.
- And then he said, from out of nowhere
Collins dashes right through
that *** machine gunner's line of sight.
Sponge.
And pitches two grenades
that would've made him the envy of Dizzy Dean.
A shame he couldn't
get back in time to beat that mortar.
He's lucky it's just his leg
I'm putting back together.
Lucky or not,
that boy's a certified hero.
- More gauze here.
- Here's your gauze, Doctor.
Is there anything else you need?
Whew! Well, certainly not anesthetic.
One whiff of your hair
could put anybody out.
There is absolutely
nothing different about my hair.
Now, Margaret, I didn't wanna
stick my nose into this, so to speak.
Retraction.
But I got to admit
the aroma in here
has brought me back to those dreaded
summer days when Mildred would put up turnips.
Okay, okay, so big deal.
I gave myself a home permanent.
I'm going to a lecture
the day after tomorrow in Seoul
and I simply wanted to be
a proper representative of this unit.
- Oh, yeah.
Is that the Chesler talk?
- Yes.
Chesler.
Isn't he the guy
who did all that work in, uh
- Emergency!
- Emergency care, yeah.
Yes.
He's the one who wrote the article
that gave me the idea
to expand the nurses' duties in triage.
- He's absolutely brilliant!
- Brilliant? Forceps.
That quack is a journeyman physician at best.
- It's his press agent who's brilliant.
- Dr.
Windbag is jealous.
Dr.
Chesler is known
all over the world
and you're just another name
in the Boston yellow pages.
- [Man] Whoo, whoo!
- [Wolf Whistle]
[Men Whistling, Shouting]
Good morning, Major Monroe.
Hello, madame.
- It will my great privilege to serve you breakfast.
- [Wolf Whistle]
We just got in a fresh shipment of Wheaties.
How about a heaping bowlful?
[Hoarsely] Well
[Clears Throat]
Well
[Coughing]
[Grunting Hoarsely]
Major, I feel the same way about the food here,
but this is all we got.
- [Tray Clatters]
- Whoa.
Idiot.
I can't
Um, I need a doctor.
[Grunts]
Good morning, Major.
If you don't mind
my saying so, hubba-hubba.
[Muttering]
Charles.
Well, Margaret.
- Can't you just say good morning
as civilized people do?
- [Grunting]
It is not my idea of breakfast fun
to play charades.
- [Grunting Continues]
- Uh, Doctor, I believe you're being paged.
May I at least finish
my Wheaties? Ah.
Margaret, what is wrong?
Ten-hut!
- As you were.
- Pierce, front and center.
In case you hadn't noticed,
this man is a general.
Major General Addison Collins,
this is, uh, Captain
I'm here to see Lieutenant Collins.
How is he?
Well, he's got a badly fractured leg.
But the last time I checked, he was doing okay.
- I'm damn glad to hear that.
- Collins and Collins?
- Is that a coincidence or does
the theory of relativity apply?
- He's my son.
Oh.
Well, nobody ever mentioned
he had fathers in high places, including him.
Only his C.
O.
Knows.
That's the way the lad wants it.
Uh, look, I don't have time for chitchat.
- I have a major offensive to take care of.
Can I see him now?
- Sure.
Colonel, if I need anything further,
I'll let you know.
- Uh, fine, General.
- Warm guy.
It was all I could do to keep
from hugging him to pieces.
Curtis?
[Panting]
Dad.
What are you doin' here?
I just wanted to see
if you were behaving yourself.
- How are you, sir?
- I'm fine.
You're the one with
the leg pointing north.
It's just broken.
You didn't have to come here.
All they told me was
that you were wounded.
And I'm, uh, grateful that it's minor.
[Panting Continues]
- You having trouble breathing?
- No.
It's just all this medication
they stuck in me.
I, uh, hear you saved a few necks.
I-I just did what I had to do
what anybody would've done.
- Anybody?
- What you would've done, sir.
How are things at "l" Corps?
Well, that Kumsong bulge
is a real son of a buck.
But we're gonna hit 'em so hard
they'll wish they'd never been born.
Sorry to interrupt this discussion
of Asian birth control
but, uh, his dressing
has to be changed.
- I think he's had enough excitement for now.
- All right, Doctor.
Uh, I'm gonna get some food,
check in with Headquarters.
- Get all the rest you can, Son.
- Sure, Dad.
Well, it would appear last night's
unfortunate meeting
between your wet head
and the chill air
- has resulted in a rather nasty case of laryngitis.
- [Hoarsely] No.
- The lecture.
- Lecture?
Oh, that silly talk in Seoul by this quack
you've been drooling over.
Must go there.
So go.
Last I knew, the only thing
you needed for a lecture were ears.
- Yours look fine to me.
- No, no.
I
- You?
- Meeting Dr.
Chesler after, personally.
Really? I thought this was
merely a medical sabbatical.
Is.
I've admired the doctor for years.
Heard he was coming here.
I wrote him.
Fan mail to a physician.
[Laughs] That's cute.
Never expected a reply.
He wrote
saying how impressed he is
with my ideas of triage.
He wants to meet me.
- Me.
- Well, well, well.
It would appear that your current affliction
wouldn't make any difference.
Your starry-eyed admiration for the good doctor
would have left you speechless anyway.
Winchester, voice gone, fists fine.
I need voice, two days.
You have a fair chance.
Margaret, you know
what do as well as I do.
Every peep you utter
is going to inflame your vocal fold.
How am I supposed to work
if I can't talk?
Shut mouth.
Use pencil.
- General.
- Pierce.
How soon before
I can see my son again?
I've already spent more time away
from Headquarters than I can spare.
Sorry I had to interrupt
your visit before.
I was concerned about that difficulty
he was having breathing.
- It was a new development,
and I wanted to check it out.
- I see.
- What is it?
- Most likely some postoperative pneumonia.
It's not uncommon.
We should be able to
knock it out with antibiotics.
You said most likely pneumonia.
What else could it be?
There's a slim chance it could be
the sign of a fat embolism.
That could be more serious.
How much more? Is he, uh
uh, out of the woods yet?
No, I can't say for sure
but I think the odds
are he'll be fine.
If the odds are one in a hundred,
it means I'll have to stay right here.
Well, General, I don't think that's necessary.
Will you show me where
your damn phones are?
Now!
- Sir.
- Sterne.
Colonel Broder's been put
on alert at Headquarters, sir.
I have the latest position reports
and troop counts from Kumsong here.
And all other updated reconnaissance
is laid out inside, sir.
- Good, Sterne.
Sergeant, is that phone network set up?
- Almost, sir.
Almost? Well, get on it!
- Yes, sir.
- Potter, where in the hell do you get these people?
General, you don't have to go to all this bother.
The V.
I.
P.
Tent is at your disposal.
- If there's anything you need
- No, no, my trailer has everything I need.
I want the V.
I.
P.
Tent
for my aide, immediately.
- And find a bunk for my driver.
- Yes, General.
And a thimble for the general's charm.
How come he didn't ask the colonel
to simonize his trailer?
- [Gargling]
- [Man On P.
A.
] Attention, Major Houlihan.
You have a telephone call from
a Dr.
Steven Chesler in Seoul.
- Please hurry.
I can't tie up the phone long.
- [Spits, Coughs]
[Groaning, Coughing]
What a pleasant surprise.
It's Harpo.
Love your outfit.
Sss-sss.
[Groans]
Sometimes a grenade
in his jammies does the trick.
- [Grunting]
- [Groans]
What do you want with me now?
Dr.
Chesler.
Well, this is indeed a phone call.
I am Dr.
Charles Emerson Winchester.
Perhaps you are familiar with my work.
Oh.
Well, I'm in the Boston yellow pages.
I'm speaking on behalf of Major Houlihan
who's here with me
but who is unfortunately suffering
from a rather severe case of laryngitis.
However, she wanted me,
uh, to tell you
- uh, "how much she's looking 'food-ward"'
- No.
Uh, "forward to your lecture.
"
Uh, she's "always felt that you are the"uh
"greatest surgeon in the wood.
"
- [Grunting]
- "World," sorry.
"In the world.
"
Don't thank me.
Believe me,
those are her words.
Oh, yes?
Yes, I'll tell her.
Just- Just- Just a moment.
Dr.
Chesler has had
to change his plans suddenly.
He must return to the States immediately,
and he's been forced to cancel his lecture.
- Oh!
- However, if you can be in Seoul
by 11:00 tomorrow morning
he'll be honored to have
a meeting with you at the hospital.
- Oh!
- She said that'd be fine.
Right, she'll see you then.
Uh-huh.
Oh, thank you.
What's the point?
He's expecting a nurse, not a frog.
[Knocking]
[Collins]
I know that route isn't secure
but it's a chance
we're going to have to take.
I don't give a damn about the mud!
Hold on a minute.
How is he?
He seems stable.
No change.
- What about the pneumonia?
- It's too soon to expect any improvement.
- Stay on top of it.
- Mmm.
Well, that's too damn bad!
I want it secure all the way to phase line Juliet.
These communications are
highly restricted, Pierce.
Is there anything else?
I've got lots of work to do.
Wonderful.
That means
I'll have lots of work to do.
Morning, ma'am.
Say, the chow here is pretty good.
Could I get seconds on orange juice?
Ah! Orange juice.
Ah.
- Feeling any better, Margaret?
- [Groans]
Well, let's have a look at you.
You know, your mother's gonna ask me
if you've been eating enough.
Uh, maybe you'd better
put away a little more.
Is that an order, sir?
That'll be 10 days in
the stockade for you
if that egg isn't over the hill soon.
Thanks for the wagon, Jimmy.
What's that?
- What?
- Are you okay?
Yeah, sure.
I'm still kind of sleepy.
That's all.
It's hard to get comfortable in this rig.
Sir, I really appreciate you
taking time out for these visits.
I know how much work you gotta do.
Don't worry about me.
I'll be fine.
You just get well.
I'm sorry, Margaret.
I don't see much improvement.
However, if it matters that much to you, go.
It's not gonna kill you.
I mean, the worst that could happen is that
your recovery is delayed by two or three days.
Please send telegram.
Well, why not? I'm often mistaken
for a little Western Union boy.
"Dr.
Chesler, must cancel.
Very sorry.
Perhaps another time.
"
Another time? The man's leaving
for the States tomorrow.
Not fair to patients or staff.
Can't work like this.
Another three days I can't go.
I must say I admire your dedication.
I'll send this off immediately
if that's what you really want.
Yeah?
Telegram for Dr.
Chesler.
Telegram for Dr.
Chesler.
[Knocking]
[Quietly]
Coming.
Coming.
[Knocking Continues]
[Gasps]
Margaret, I don't believe
you've met Dr.
Chesler.
- Oh.
- This is indeed a pleasure.
[Muttering]
Oh.
- I believe that Major Houlihan
is inviting you to come in.
- Yeah.
Well, get acquainted, you two.
- Oh, ah ah
- Now, please don't strain your voice.
Ah.
Why are you here?
Well, under the circumstances,
I could hardly refuse your invitation.
I invited you?
Well, I realize that Dr.
Winchester's voice
was on the telephone this morning
but you were standing next to him
telling him all those nice things to say.
Yes.
Yes, that was me.
Yes.
You know, I don't know whether
it's your dedication to your job
or all those lovely things
you said about me
but I wanted to meet you before I left.
I'm
speechless.
Good news, Private.
Your temperature's back to normal.
[Wheezing, Coughing]
Get Dr.
Pierce!
[Collins]
Now, look, Broder.
Hickman's been stalling with that ammunition
too damn long, and I'm just about to
How is he?
I'll call you back.
Well?
I'm sorry.
He didn't make it.
What do you mean he didn't make it?
He was fine this morning,
you son of a ***!
It came on suddenly.
A fat embolism
somehow got into his bloodstream.
It happens sometimes
with fractures like that.
He was gone in minutes.
There was nothing anybody could do.
[Sighs]
- You have any children?
- No.
I'm not married.
Curt was about seven.
We moved to Virginia.
We had a big elm tree in the yard big one.
Curt was always very small for his age
but from the very first day
he tried to climb it.
Some days he'd fall.
Other times he'd
he'd get all skinned up, but he kept tryin'.
And then one day, uh
he was about nine
he finally made it.
I don't know who was prouder
him or me.
That night he came to me
and he said, uh
"Dad, can we move away from here?"
Well, I asked him, "Why?"
Know what he said?
He said
[Chuckles]
"So we can get a house
with a bigger tree.
"
I barely knew your son.
You kneel over a kid for a few seconds
in the compound, and, uh
if there's time, you read
a dog tag and call him by name.
But there are too many
to really remember.
But sometimes
the special ones stick out.
Curt was in a lot of pain
but the only thing that
concerned him was his men.
They thought he was
pretty special too.
Thanks.
I guess the only thing you didn't like
about him was his father.
No, let's-let's just say that we
we see things differently.
You may find this
hard to believe, Pierce
but I never pushed Curt
to make a career of the army.
It's a tough, tough life.
But he wanted to be
like his old man.
And I guess when a boy
sees the uniform
with all its brass and ribbons
he doesn't see the dirt
and blood that line it.
And I'm sure he felt
the way to make me proud
was to do as I did, only better.
And that's what got him killed.
You don't know that.
If Curt hadn't volunteered,
he would've been drafted.
Thousands of kids die here
and it doesn't have anything to do with
who they are or whether they wanted to be here.
[Sighs]
In this room they're pins.
When they die out there
you can't feel the pain in here.
When enough of them die
you just remove a pin.
So many wars, campaigns, battles.
Not enough time
to give names to the dead.
They just die by the numbers.
I always knew that somewhere
for every number
there was somebody to cry.
But I never heard
the crying in this room.
They were always other men's sons.
Will you drink with me, Pierce?
Of course.
To every man's son.
Would you ask my aide
to come in here, please?
Yeah, sure.
This is Collins again.
Get me "l" Corps back, right away.
Broder, make damn sure
that ammunition gets there by 0800.
I know the west flank's exposed.
I don't have any choice!
[Handset Settles In Cradle]
Hello, Margaret.
How did it go
with you and the quack?
Oh.
He l We
[Cheering, Whistling]
