Plot: A visiting medical specialist plans to demonstrate a new arterial transplant technique, but gets drunk before the operation, leaving Hawkeye to do the job.

I'd love to know what Hawkeye and Trapper did when Henry asked them for a report on what they learned at the lectures that they skipped.

How many times has Hawkeye, BJ, Trapper, or any of the other surgeons operated on someone after having a few belts? As much as they drink I'd say quite often.

I think Dr. Borelli was supposed to have had more than a few belts, Dave. He was bombed. With one exception, the surgeons never operated while completely wasted.

I like the speech borelli gives Hawk, pointing out that he started just like Hawk. Here we see one of the darker sides of hawk, that his self-righteousness sometimes overshoots. Consindering the problems Hawk already has with alcohol (compare the ep. where burns declares prohibition) he should be more aware how similar they are. (and in "fallen idol" in 6th. season hawk *is* too drunk to operate.)

Later in the series, Pierce, if you'll recall will go on the wagon ("Bottle Fatigue"). Of course, it took the size of his bar tab to drive him to it. However, the episode ends with Hawk refusing a drink because he "need(s) it". He decides he'll come back for it when he wants it, giving a bit of hope that Hawkeye just might overcome his growing alcohol problem.

I think the point of the episode is to show Borelli as a mirror for Pierce. That's probably why he's played by Robert Alda.

Radar says he learned how to drive from the bumper cars. Maybe I'm imagining this, but wasn't there an episode where Hawkeye claims to have taught Radar how to drive?

Borelli, not realizing Pierce and McIntyre are captains, asks if it's alright if Hawkeye and Trapper are in the Officers bar in Tokyo. As Pierce and McIntyre enter the bar, two Japanese civilians can clearly be seen. What are they doing in an Officers bar?

Throughout the bar scene, Hawkeye is shown with one glass in his hand at a time. However, he originally ordered a scotch and water (save the water for tomorrow) and then a Vodka Gibson, after hearing Borelli order one. Pierce never seems to have gotten that Vodka Gibson, even though he did order it.

Who paid for the two zombies Trapper drank and the two scotches Pierce had? It looks like the two captains left the bar without paying for anything. Did they stick Borelli with the tab? No wonder he went to the 4077^th. He wanted to be reimbursed.

Henry says the tank of water he's sitting is "heaven". It's looks a little less than that to me. I mean, the water looks to be a rather dirty brown in color.

In the close up shots, Henry's shoulders stick out of the pool. In the long shots, they are submerged.

What incontrovertible proof could Frank have that Pierce and McIntyre didn't attend any of the lectures? He wasn't there. No one else from the unit was. So just how would Frank know they didn't go?

I think the whole bit where Margaret and Borelli stare at each other in the Mess Tent has been edited out for syndication.

The scrub sinks are positioned differently in this ep. Normally, the sinks sit side by side. In this ep, they face each other.

If Borelli is so drunk that he cannot perform the operation, how is it that he can be trusted to guide Hawkeye through the arterial transplant operation? Surely there'd be a danger of Borelli forgetting to tell Hawkeye to do something, because the Major is so soused?

I believe the arterial graft O.R. scene has more of Borelli trying to get a response from Hawkeye in the unedited version.

The last tag of this ep has been cut for syndication. In it, Borelli is about to board a chopper to go back to Tokyo. He says goodbye to Henry, Frank, Trapper and Margaret and then Radar. Hawkeye finally makes his way up to the chopper pad and tips his hat to Borelli. The scene indicates that Pierce has reached some sort of reconcillation with Borelli. This doesn't quite jibe with how Pierce reacts to Borelli when the Major returns in "Lend a Hand".

Abyssinia!

In an earlier episode, Hawkeye and Trapper were talking with Radar. "Who got you drunk for the first time? Who taught to to drive a jeep? Both on the same night!"