Plot: Mail call, and Henry gets a hint that his wife may be straying. Father Mulcahy's sister is thinking of quitting the nun business, and the Korean wife of a Jewish officer requests a circumcision rite for their son.

Apparently Father Mulcahy's sister the Sister changed her mind about leaving the nunhood, but I can't remember how Mulcahy dealt with it at the end of this episode. @#$%&* syndication cuts!

As I recall, Mulcahy decided that if that's what Cathy (wasn't that her name?) wants to leave, then that's fine with him. He reconciled himself to the decision.

Judging from later references, she changed her mind.

Aha, I got some minor nits for this episode. I wrote them all down the second time I saw this episode. Here they are:

When Radar first gives Hawkeye the package containing the contest, ("Occupant: MASH 4077") he takes the picture out, holding it in his hands. The next shot shows the picture on the table and then it's back in Hawkeye's hands.

What's keeping Henry's door open? He's going back and forth wile Radar talks on the phone looking for the rabbi, and the door never swings. You never even see it. Granted, a doorstop could be there, but why?

Did they ever get the horse? Apparently not.

Why did the people even send the contest to MASH 4077?

This is pretty minor, but Henry talks to his wife for more than the 2 minutes Radar says he's got.

Maybe they gave the horse to the orphanage? (Wasn't it actually supposed to just be a pony?)
As for why they sent the contest in the first place...hey, trust me, junk mail is EVERYWHERE! :>
Seriously, don't other episodes reference the M*A*S*H crew ordering from mail-order catalogues (Radar's lift shoes, etc.?) Did they have mailing lists in the '50's?

Why is it necessary for mulcaheys sister to quit the nun business in order to have a child - can't she adopt one?

Why did Father mulcahey have such trouble saying the jewish words necessary - I thought priests all learn greek and old hebrew (in order to study the original texts.)

Would Franks and houlahans complaint about the circumcision have caused any real trouble? This is not a cosmetic surgery, this belongs to religion, like baptizing a christian child, and its not taking away ressources from the wounded, as its done during a calm period. (IIRC, many doctors advocated circumcision in the 50s and 60s for non-jewish children, arguing because of hygiene. Interestingly enough, when the Health insurance stopped paying for it, the need and benefits for it suddenly sunk, too.)

Why did Father mulcahey have such trouble saying the jewish words necessary

1. That's "Hebrew words", not "Jewish words". Would you say "Catholic words" or "Latin words"?

2. Interestingly, the Father's Hebrew improves. In a later episode (don't know which one, but Potter and Charles are in it), he says a Mi Shebeirach for a wounded Jewish soldier without any problems, it just rolls off his tongue.

Of course, a Mi Shebeirach is probably more common in a field hospital than a circumcision ritual!

ScottN, yes I would say Latin words, because Latin is a language . I meant the jewish language, but of course Hebrew is a more correct expression. Sorry.

Of course, a Mi Shebeirach is probably more common in a field hospital than a circumcision ritual!

I didn't expect a catholic priest to know the rituals of the jewish religion, but he should be able to pronounce the hebrew words correctly. Its also the expression on his face during this scene - as if he doesn't know or understand one part of this ritual. I would expect a priest who studied theology to have some background knowledge on the basics of jewish religion, because its important in order to understand the old testament better. But maybe the curriculum differs between mulcaheys collegetime in america and modern germany ?

Oh, my apologies to all. One says Mi Shebeirach for someone who is sick or ill. It's a prayer for speedy healing. Hence my comment about it being more common in a field hospital.

"Why is it necessary for mulcaheys sister to quit the nun business in order to have a child - can't she adopt one?" - constanze

Don't nuns, like priests, take a vow of poverty? If this is true, I don't think a nun would be able to provide a good home to child. Plus, I believe nuns are supposed to be devoted to God to the exclusion of all else. A child, I would imagine, would distract from that. But not being Catholic, I can't say definitively that these are the reasons Cathy (or was it Kathy?) would have to leave the Sisterhood.

"Why did Father mulcahey have such trouble saying the jewish words necessary - I thought priests all learn greek and old hebrew (in order to study the original texts.)" - constaze

My guess is that the Padre was too worried about his sister, the Sister, to get the words right. He did seem a bit distracted to me, IIRC.

"Would Franks and houlahans complaint about the circumcision have caused any real trouble? This is not a cosmetic surgery, this belongs to religion, like baptizing a christian child, and its not taking away ressources from the wounded, as its done during a calm period." - constanze

I doubt Burns and Houlihan's complaint would cause much trouble. While they do call the circumcision "elective surgery", remember that earlier in the ep, Frank called it "one of their (Koreans') scams." I think the Majors' complaint may have been, despite the mother's claim, that the infant was "a foreigner" (non-American) using American facilities.

Actually, I believe Burns and Houlihan's complaint was simply to get Pierce and McIntyre in trouble. Funny how Burns and Houlihan call the Captain's immature, but do something like this. It's like telling the teacher to get a fellow student in trouble.

With the final scene, they have some rollicking music, and Trapper and the Korean mother jump out on the floor and begin swinging around with enthusiasm. Hawkeye comes trotting up with a borrowed horse (to practice for their pony) and Trapper leaves the mother with the Father and springs onto the horse from the rear. Exit to music.

According to the closed captioning on the DVD, when Father Mulcahy goes to sit with Hawkeye and Trapper, the Padre greets Captain McIntyre by saying "Hello Chopper." Who's "Chopper"? (And it does sound like that's what Mulcahy says.)

With my DVD player, I can zoom in on the images on the discs. I've looked at a close-up of the barnyard picture. It's grainy, but still, it's hard to believe that the faces of ten U.S. Presidents are hidden in that picture. I can't see any. I certainly can't see Calvin Coolidge's face under the horse's tail or Teddy Roosevelt in one of the trees.

While trying to figure out what the South Korean woman means by "Forbris", Trapper suggests that maybe she means Captain Forrest. (A reference to Tom Skerrit's character in the movie?) Hawk says that it can't be. Forrest has been gone for over two years. That places this ep in late 1952 or early 1953. That's an awfully short period of time for the remainder of the series to take place in.

So Henry, Trapper and Hawkeye are going to watch the Colonel's "Parrot" movies in the generator shed. Is it really big enough to show a movie in? And wouldn't it be a bit too noisy in there. I don't mean too noisy to hear the film. I mean too much noise than is good for the ears for such a prolonged period of time.

Why did Father mulcahey have such trouble saying the jewish words necessary - I thought priests all learn greek and old hebrew (in order to study the original texts.) - constanze

Probably because it's Radar who's feeding the Padre the words. Radar is far from familiar with the Hebrew language, I would think. So obvious Walter's going to stumble over them. This in turn causes Father Mulcahy to have trouble with them, as he tries to figure out what it is Radar is telling him. Plus, the words are coming to Radar via Morse Code from the carrier, the Essex. So the words for the Bris ceremony are coming in piecemeal. This adds to the difficulties. (I do note that Father Mulcahy seems to be able to say the words better than Radar.)

You know, for two people so opposed to the circumcision, it's intersting that Margaret and Frank do join in to say, "Amen" at the end of the Bris.

Abyssinia!

While trying to figure out what the South Korean woman means by "Forbris", Trapper suggests that maybe she means Captain Forrest. (A reference to Tom Skerrit's character in the movie?) Hawk says that it can't be. Forrest has been gone for over two years. That places this ep in late 1952 or early 1953. That's an awfully short period of time for the remainder of the series to take place in. - me

It's also impossible. The episode has to take place before the spring of 1952, because of the chronologies established in the episodes "Welcome to Korea" and "Change of Command".

Abyssinia!