The Consultant
Encyclopedia
"The Consultant" is the 17th episode in the third season of the television series M*A*S*H. It originally aired on January 17, 1975. It was written by Robert Klane, from a story by Larry Gelbart
, and was directed by Gene Reynolds
.
, but instead of attending seminars and meetings, they intend to spend their time golfing and picking up geisha girls
.
Once arriving in Japan, the two cohorts sit at a bar and chum up to a civilian medical consultant, Anthony Borelli (played by Robert Alda
). They exchange stories, as Borelli is in Tokyo
attending the same conference and has himself served as surgical doctor in both world wars. Trapper and Hawkeye invite Borelli to leave the "cozy locker room in Tokyo" and get some real game in a M*A*S*H unit or aid station. He politely declines and the three part ways.
Back at the camp, Henry is enjoying a soak in a makeshift wading pool that has apparently engineered by Radar. Frank saunters up and complains loudly that Hawkeye and Trapper did not attend a single lecture at the clinic. Henry avoids Frank by sinking under the water. Then, Trapper and Hawkeye walk out, decked in swimming shorts, flippers and floaties. The jump into the pool, making a big splash.
As Henry broaches the topic of the clinic, a chopper arrives, and it carries Dr. Borelli who has come for a stay at the friendly 4077th. Borelli bunks in the Swamp and prepares for his stay as visiting surgeon. Frank and Margaret are excited to meet the new doctor and Margaret puts on her usual charms.
More choppers arrive, this time with wounded. In the OR everyone is working on patients, including Frank who is about ready to amputate a patient's leg because of a collapsed artery
. Borelli intercedes and explains the process of an arterial transplant. For this procedure a new artery is grafted in, resulting in preservation of the limb. In a tense moment, Frank objects because, "Somebody might get in trouble." Eventually, Henry sends Radar to the phones so that they can track down a new artery.
In the Mess, Hawkeye, Trapper, and Borelli sit at one table drinking coffee, while Frank and Margaret sit at an opposite table doing the same. Borelli and Margaret continue to eye each other. Radar barges in, announcing that he found the artery. Trapper and Hawkeye leave to retrieve the artery while Borelli ominously declines to make the trip.
At the British Army
M*A*S*H where the artery resides, Trapper and Hawkeye talk with a pompous and talkative British
CO who is cordial enough, but takes his time signing over the artery.
When Trapper and Hawkeye get back to the 4077th, they have Borelli paged to the OR and the two surgeons scrub in. Radar comes into the OR, looking upset and urges Hawkeye to go to the Swamp, where Borelli waits.
In the Swamp Borelli sits with a scared, somber expression on his face, and Hawkeye realizes that the surgeon is drunk and unfit to operate. Borelli reasons that Hawkeye can handle the surgery if Borelli directs him, and Hawkeye grudgingly agrees to go through with the surgery, which is successful.
Later, in the Swamp with tension in the air, Borelli explains how he wasn't prepared for the intensity of the M*A*S*H unit and he had to turn to drinking in order to recover. He says that his old age makes things harder to bear than they once were. He leaves, and Hawkeye sets aside his drink.
Radar, Henry, Frank, and Margaret bid farewell to Borelli on the landing pad, and just before the chopper takes off, Hawkeye walks up the hill and offers Borelli a nonchalant wave good-bye.
Larry Gelbart
Larry Simon Gelbart was an American television writer, playwright, screenwriter and author.-Early life:...
, and was directed by Gene Reynolds
Gene Reynolds
Gene Reynolds is a former American actor turned award-winning television writer, director, and producer.-Early life:He was born Eugene Reynolds Blumenthal on April 4, 1923 to Frank Eugene Blumenthal and Maude Evelyn Blumenthal in Cleveland, Ohio, he was raised in Detroit, Michigan, where his...
.
Plot overview
Hawkeye and Trapper are off to surgical clinic in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, but instead of attending seminars and meetings, they intend to spend their time golfing and picking up geisha girls
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
.
Once arriving in Japan, the two cohorts sit at a bar and chum up to a civilian medical consultant, Anthony Borelli (played by Robert Alda
Robert Alda
Robert Alda was an American actor. He was the father of actors Alan Alda and Antony Alda.-Life and career:...
). They exchange stories, as Borelli is in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
attending the same conference and has himself served as surgical doctor in both world wars. Trapper and Hawkeye invite Borelli to leave the "cozy locker room in Tokyo" and get some real game in a M*A*S*H unit or aid station. He politely declines and the three part ways.
Back at the camp, Henry is enjoying a soak in a makeshift wading pool that has apparently engineered by Radar. Frank saunters up and complains loudly that Hawkeye and Trapper did not attend a single lecture at the clinic. Henry avoids Frank by sinking under the water. Then, Trapper and Hawkeye walk out, decked in swimming shorts, flippers and floaties. The jump into the pool, making a big splash.
As Henry broaches the topic of the clinic, a chopper arrives, and it carries Dr. Borelli who has come for a stay at the friendly 4077th. Borelli bunks in the Swamp and prepares for his stay as visiting surgeon. Frank and Margaret are excited to meet the new doctor and Margaret puts on her usual charms.
More choppers arrive, this time with wounded. In the OR everyone is working on patients, including Frank who is about ready to amputate a patient's leg because of a collapsed artery
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
. Borelli intercedes and explains the process of an arterial transplant. For this procedure a new artery is grafted in, resulting in preservation of the limb. In a tense moment, Frank objects because, "Somebody might get in trouble." Eventually, Henry sends Radar to the phones so that they can track down a new artery.
In the Mess, Hawkeye, Trapper, and Borelli sit at one table drinking coffee, while Frank and Margaret sit at an opposite table doing the same. Borelli and Margaret continue to eye each other. Radar barges in, announcing that he found the artery. Trapper and Hawkeye leave to retrieve the artery while Borelli ominously declines to make the trip.
At the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
M*A*S*H where the artery resides, Trapper and Hawkeye talk with a pompous and talkative British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
CO who is cordial enough, but takes his time signing over the artery.
When Trapper and Hawkeye get back to the 4077th, they have Borelli paged to the OR and the two surgeons scrub in. Radar comes into the OR, looking upset and urges Hawkeye to go to the Swamp, where Borelli waits.
In the Swamp Borelli sits with a scared, somber expression on his face, and Hawkeye realizes that the surgeon is drunk and unfit to operate. Borelli reasons that Hawkeye can handle the surgery if Borelli directs him, and Hawkeye grudgingly agrees to go through with the surgery, which is successful.
Later, in the Swamp with tension in the air, Borelli explains how he wasn't prepared for the intensity of the M*A*S*H unit and he had to turn to drinking in order to recover. He says that his old age makes things harder to bear than they once were. He leaves, and Hawkeye sets aside his drink.
Radar, Henry, Frank, and Margaret bid farewell to Borelli on the landing pad, and just before the chopper takes off, Hawkeye walks up the hill and offers Borelli a nonchalant wave good-bye.
Cast
- Alan AldaAlan AldaAlphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo , better known as Alan Alda, is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the TV series M*A*S*H...
as Cpt. Hawkeye Pierce - Wayne RogersWayne RogersWilliam Wayne McMillan Rogers III is an American film and television actor, best known for playing the role of 'Trapper John' McIntyre in the U.S...
as Cpt. Trapper John McIntyre - McLean StevensonMcLean StevensonEdgar McLean Stevenson, Jr. , better known as McLean Stevenson, was an American actor most recognized for his role as Lt. Colonel Henry Blake on the TV series M*A*S*H...
as Lt. Col. Henry Blake - Loretta SwitLoretta SwitLoretta Swit is an American stage and television actress known for her character roles. Swit is best-known for her portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H.-Early life:...
as Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan - Larry LinvilleLarry LinvilleLawrence Lavon "Larry" Linville was an American actor. He was known for his portrayal of obnoxious, pious, self-important and inept surgeon Major Frank Burns in the television series M*A*S*H.-M*A*S*H:...
as Maj. Frank Burns - Gary Burghoff as Cpl. Radar O'Reilly
- William ChristopherWilliam ChristopherWilliam Christopher is an American actor who is best known for playing Father Mulcahy on the television series M*A*S*H and Private Lester Hummel on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.-Early life:...
as Father Mulcahy - Robert AldaRobert AldaRobert Alda was an American actor. He was the father of actors Alan Alda and Antony Alda.-Life and career:...
as Maj. Borelli - Joseph Maher as Major Taylor
- Tad Horino as the Bartender.