113. End Run

January 25, 1977 (U-816)

Written by: John D. Hess
Directed by: Harry Morgan
Guest Stars: Henry Brown, as Billy Tyler. James Lough, as Felix Cornhouse. Tom Tarpey, as Battalion Surgeon. Peter D. Greene, as Medic. Greg Mabrey, as Wounded Soldier.
Semi-regulars: Johnny Haymer, as Sergeant Zale.

Plot: A company of GIs are under attack. A young black sergeant, Billy Tyler, is hit in the leg trying to save another soldier. Back at the 4077th, a large fist-fight has broken out at Rosie's between the staff of the 4077th and the 8063rd. When Tyler is back at the camp, Radar tells the gang about how he's a star football player from Iowa. When Hawkeye and BJ are about to operate on him, Tyler tells them that he doesn't want to live without his leg. Klinger and Zale get into a fight about how Klinger didn't want to get into the fight at Rosie's. Hot Lips convinces Burns to make them duke it out, despite the fact that it's against regulations. Tyler wakes up after surgery without his leg, and blames Hawkeye for it. He wants to die. Hawkeye tries to convince him otherwise, without a lot of success. Radar talks to Tyler and manages to get him to decide to keep trying. At the fight, Klinger and Zale mess around for a while pretending to fight before punching Burns.

BIMOL: Father Mulcahy's duties this episode are confined to being the bell-ringer at the fight.

Great Lines: Hawkeye: ‘I think I'm having an identity crisis. I know I'm Dr Pierce, but I want to be God.' BJ: ‘If you ever get the job, don't forget your old friends.'

The Klinger Collection: He starts off in a blue dress with white trim and a wide-brimmed straw hat with cherries on it. He then changes for a pink/red check dress with white lace trim and a matching hat. He's later wearing a grey tracksuit, which isn't especially feminine. He fights in pink pedal-pushers, a polka-dot blouse and a cherry hat.

Continuity is for Wimps: This really is a bit picky, but in episode 102. The Abduction of Margaret Houlihan, Klinger says he ripped his pink pedal pushers, but they seem fine in this episode. I guess he maybe repaired them, which is possible.

Comments: Once more, Burns is pushed into the ‘comic relief' role, which he's occupied ever since Hot Lips got engaged. Radar is as sweet as always, and although it's no surprise when Tyler decides to keep on trying, it is quite a nice episode.

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