Temporary C.O. Frank Burns attempts to have Hawkeye court-martialed for mutiny, and it's up to his friends to save him from possible execution.
Attention! Attention, all personnel! Capt. Pierce is charged with the following tropes:
- Artistic License – Military: If not for the dire need of surgeons, it's likely that Frank would've had the book thrown at him for his attempt to unlawfully usurp command. Under the US Army rules, the XO (Burns) is legally not permitted to make changes to the unit while the CO (Potter) is away for reasons other than total incapacitation or permanent reassignment (Potter was on R&R).
- Background Halo: During Frank's recollection of events, his surgical head mirror provides this effect.
- Combat Medic: What Frank thinks he is, anyway...
- Comically Missing the Point: Radar mistakes Frank’s intentions while searching for the $300 in Mulcahy and Klinger’s tents.
- Courtroom Episode: It's a preliminary hearing, but otherwise this episode fits the bill.
- Deadpan Snarker: Practically anyone not named Frank Burns is in full force in this episode when it comes to this, especially Hawkeye and B.J.
- For example, when Burns is attempting to find "stolen" money, even when Hawkeye told him that someone won it gambling:
Frank: Impossible. Gambling's prohibited. There is no gambling in this unit. Therefore the money was stolen.B.J.: I can't argue with that kind of logic!Hawkeye: I wouldn't even try. My mother taught me two things - never argue with crazy people and always wear clean underwear in case you get run over by a tank and have to go to the hospital. - Death Glare: When Frank is not only perfectly aware that if found guilty, Hawkeye will be executed, but also would be fine with him having "worse". B.J. glares at him with bemused disgust.
- Don't Do Anything I Wouldn't Do: Frank Burns says this to Colonel Potter as the latter is heading to Tokyo on R&R, prompting Potter to reply, "I don't know that I'd want to do anything you would do."
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Frank considers Hawkeye being "deliberately kind to those beneath him" part of the reason he believes the latter to be a "threat" to America.
- Exhausted Eyebags: In Frank's recollection, B.J. and Hawkeye are made to look as haggard as possible.
- Fate Worse than Death: Frank is fine with Hawkeye being sentenced to death "or worse". Hawkeye being Hawkeye, he plays this up to the hilt.Hawkeye: Not only does he want my life, Frank also wants my virginity!B.J.: We all do.
- Insane Troll Logic:
- Because the M in M.A.S.H. stands for "mobile", Frank decides to have the entire 4077 moved across the road. He then proceeds to have the camp moved back the next day.
Frank: The "M" stands for mobile!Hawkeye: Also for "meshuggah".- Likewise, his belief that the money won from gambling was "stolen." See Deadpan Snarker above.
- Laugh Track: While the laugh track has always been on the show (though, on DVD sets, you do have the option to turn it off), this episode is notable for being the only time the laughter can be heard in the O.R. Of course, that's because it's only happening in Frank's version of the events leading to the court martial. Considering that there's no laughter in the O.R. in Hawkeye's story (except when Frank is being dragged out), this clearly states to the viewer that Frank's story is a crock.
- The Neidermeyer: This episode is a showcase on why Frank Burns should never be in charge.
- Pop-Culture Pun Episode Title: From The Caine Mutiny.
- "Rashomon"-Style: Frank's and Hawkeye's recollection of the events in the O.R. are very different.Hawkeye: Major Burns' recounting of events was to say the least interesting. It was to say the most, perjury.
- Small Name, Big Ego: Frank's version of events at the trial can be this. He's always on top of things doing everything that everyone else can't, even administering last rites to a patient after Father Mulcahy has passed out from exhaustion, then claiming that Hawkeye and B.J. outright refuse to do any other work because they've hit the Despair Event Horizon. One of the presiding officers at the trial proceeds to tell him that he wouldn't trust Frank to be a pastry chef.
- Stealth Insult: When Frank busts in on a (now-taboo) poker game, Hawkeye covers it up by telling him they're holding a spelling bee, prompting B.J. to begin spelling the word "cretin".Radar: What's a cretin?Frank: A moron. A mental defective.Hawkeye: Let's hear it for the horse's mouth.
- Tyrant Takes the Helm: Frank is put in temporary charge of the 4077 while Potter is away on R&R. Needless to say, it does not go well.
