The Incubator was the 12th episode of Season 2 of the TV series M*A*S*H, also the 36th overall episode of the series. Written by Larry Gelbart and Lawrence Marks, and directed by Terry Becker, it originally aired on CBS-TV on December 1, 1973.
Synopsis[]
Hawkeye and Trapper decide they need an incubator to aid their medical work, and fight the army red tape to get one.
Full episode summary[]
Hawkeye and Trapper wake up with a hangover from a party they can't remember. Frank can't help but berate them yet again, pointing out their lax military attitude, wasteful off hours, alcoholism, and slovenly behavior. For once, the pair take the unsolicited advice and decide to go on the wagon (temporarily, of course). While on rounds, they run across a patient who is running a persistent fever. They take a blood sample, but since they have to send the samples to Tokyo for testing - because the unit lacks its own incubator - they lose valuable treatment time. Fed up, they decide to attempt to get one for the camp themselves.
They go to Henry (who proudly shows off a new barbecue grill from the Army Quartermaster) to insist he get an incubator for the unit. Henry arranges a meeting with Captain Sloan, an officer from the Quartermaster Corps. Sloan refers to his manual and then tells them they can't have one - it would be considered a luxury. But they could have a jukebox or pizza oven. Hawkeye and Trapper leave Henry's office disgusted at the supply Captain "who won't tie his shoe without a direct order."
Later during surgery, they learn that Radar located an incubator - in fact, three of them - at the 728th Evac Hospital in Pusan. Delighted, Hawkeye and Trapper go to Pusan to see Major Arnold Morris (Ted Gehring). But Morris has to have everything in triplicate and refuses to give any of them up, in the fear one might break, and as he says to them "then I'd only have two!".
Hawkeye and Trapper go next to Colonel Lambert, the 728th Evac Hospital commander (who is currently relaxing at his residence in Tokyo). Lambert agrees they can have an incubator, or even a B-52 bomber, but for a price. After all, he is sending Korea to Switzerland "one dollar at a time".
Hawkeye and Trapper then move on up the chain of command to see General Mitchell. They crash a press conference he is chairing to ask him tough questions about why MASH hospitals are not given incubators. Naturally, being a press conference, the last thing Mitchell wants to do is give answers. The press conference descends into chaos when Hawkeye yells "Give me a incubator or give me death." and calls the General a "NINCOMPAC".
Back at the 4077th, Henry tells Hawkeye and Trapper that Mitchell wants the two of then arrested, but Henry cannot afford to because there are wounded to be attended to. Leaving Henry's office, Radar shows them his proud acquisition: an incubator. It turns out he got it by trading the barbecue that Henry got.
Research notes/Fun facts[]
- Speaking to Solomonson and O'Neill in an interview for "TV's M*A*S*H: The Ultimate Guide Book", Eldon Quick, who played Captain Sloan, said that the lines in his scene had originally been written for Larry Linville's Frank Burns character. However, as it consisted rattling off a string of difficult to memorize numbers and initials, Linville asked for someone else to do it, so the part was given to Quick. Quick attempted to create a "by the book" bureaucratic character for the scene.[1] Frank Burns was unit requisitions officer in other episodes, such as "The Price of Tomato Juice", so he would have suited this scene as well.
- About the character of Major Morris, Larry Gelbart (writing with the ID "Elsig") told the alt.tv.mash newsgroup that he was originally meant to play the supply sergeant (sic). He then decided against it for various reasons. Vic Tayback was hired for the rolem but they weren't happy with the scene and re-shot it with someone else (Ted Gehring).[2]
- The character that appears in Season 8, Luther Rizzo, shares a name with the patient in this episode. This was completely unintentional.
- The medal ribbons on Cpt. Sloan's dress jacket are surprisingly dressy for a lower ranked officer of Quartermaster Corps. He wears, on his far right, a National Defense Service ribbon. In the center, a Korean Service ribbon, which is especially surprising for Quartermasters. On his far left, he wears a United Nations Service Ribbon.
- Anachronism: Lambert's mention of the B-52 is anachronistic, as it only entered service in 1955.
- Despite being billed, Loretta Swit does not appear in the episode.
- Hawkeye's Salutes: Hawkeye and Trapper salute Major Morris. They needed to get on his good side because he controlled the incubators.
Guest stars/Recurring cast[]
- Robert F. Simon as Major General Maynard Mitchell
- Logan Ramsey as Colonel Lambert
- Ted Gehring as Major Arnold Morris
- Eldon Quick as Captain Sloan
- Sarah Fankboner as Nurse Owens
- Helen Funai as Betty Lou
- John Alvin as Bowman
- Jerry Harper as Phillips
- Uncredited appearances:
- Sheila Lauritsen (with Trapper in Post-Op; see Lieutenant Watson)
- Patricia Stevens (fetches Hawkeye an ice pack in Post-Op)
- Ralph Grosh as General Mitchell's aide (see Captain Fox)
Gallery[]
