79. Dear Mildred

October 24, 1975 (G-505)

Written by: Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell
Directed by: Alan Alda
Guest Stars: Buck Young, as Dan. Richard Lee Sung, as the Korean Woodcarver. Barbara Christopher, as Nurse O'Connor.
Semi-regulars: William Christopher, as Father Mulcahy. Patricia Stevens, as Nurse Able.

Plot: Colonel Potter writes a letter to his wife for their anniversary, talking about general camp goings-on. Burns and Hot Lips take Colonel Potter's picture, supposedly for the camp year book, but really to have a bust carved of him for his anniversary. Radar is finding it hard to adjust to Colonel Potter's presence - he is a very different commander to Colonel Blake. The mail chopper arrives and the pilot tells Radar, BJ and Hawkeye about a wounded horse not far away, which Radar convinces them to go and treat. Potter tells his wife about Father Mulcahy keeping the troops entertained when the movie breaks. (His performance partner, Lt. O'Connor, is played by Barbara Christopher, and she looks very much like she could be Bill Christopher's sister.) The doctors and Radar save the horse and treat its shrapnel wound. Back in his letter, Potter reflects on the relationship between Burns and Hot Lips. Radar has the horse hidden in the motor pool with the jeeps, but he knows that he can't keep it there indefinitely. The Colonel is very pleased with his anniversary present from Burns and Hot Lips, but is then absolutely bowled over when Radar makes him a present of the horse.

Glitches: The horse has apparently got a large shrapnel wound, which I for one cannot see.
The store-room door is kicked by a very unconvincing fake horse's hoof.

BIMOL: Klinger shows up in the film scene and nowhere else.

Great Lines: Father Mulcahy: 'If you'll excuse me, I have to run.' Potter: 'More confessions?' Mulcahy: 'Dysentery.' Potter: 'Ah well, this too shall pass.'

The Klinger Collection: A rain poncho with long earrings.

Continuity is for Wimps: This is a bit pedantic, but BJ says that his experience with horses is confined to stepping in manure, but in 107. The Colonel's Horse (Season 5) he reveals that his father-in-law is a rancher from Oklahoma. Is his lack of expertise really likely, then? Also, the horse which Radar gives the Colonel is a stallion. When it is referred to later, all of a sudden it's become a mare called Sophie. Maybe the stallion ran away and had to be replaced.

They All Look the Same to Me: Richard Lee Sung again, poor sod, in another of his 'greasy Korean entrepreneur' roles, which he does so well.

Notes: Colonel Potter's wife is called Mildred, same as Colonel Blake's was (at least, some of the time). This is the first time she's mentioned by name - he previously refers to her as Mrs Potter and Mother.

Comments: I really liked this episode, as a way of starting off the friendship between Colonel Potter and Radar. It also reflects that other than the dead guys and things being blown up, possibly the hardest thing for an army man is being away from home a lot. But it doesn't overwork the point, which is nice.

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