M*A*S*H (1972–1983): Season 1, Episode 5 - The Moose - full transcript

Hawkeye is outraged when a visiting sergeant brings his 'moose' to camp - a young Korean woman he has bought to keep as his personal servant.

Look, it's daylight again.

14 hours. Rough session. Very rough.

Somebody is using the US Army
for target practice.

Come on, let's get
some breakfast and hit the sack.

I'm with you, big fella. And this morning
it's two olives in my breakfast.

Where can I find Colonel Blake's office?

Yes, Sergeant. You go straight
down there, turn left and, uh...

Iook for a broken-down,
dirty old man and follow him.

- Yes, sir. He'll take me to Colonel Blake?
- That is Colonel Blake.

- Thank you, sir. Young Hi.
- Roger wilco, Sergeant Baker-san.

Find the noncom tent, organise a shower,
unpack my fatigues and shine my boots.



Draw rations from the mess tent
and unpack the rest.

And keep them cigarettes
under lock and key. Understood?

- Roger wilco.
- What'll she do with the rest of the day?

- Practise her shorthand.
- The gooks, they don't mind workin'.

Sergeant.

I don't care for that word.

- "Gooks"?
- Yeah.

- Nothing personal, sir.
- Then knock it off.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

OK, Young Hi, let's move.

- What do you mean, his moose?
- That's just the name for it, Hawkeye: moose.

It's from musume, Japanese for "girl".

Yeah? What's Japanese for "living together"?

Well, that might not be the case here.
She could be just his servant.



Yeah? With or without fringe benefits?

I talked to her. The sergeant
bought her from her family for $500.

Bought her? Is that what you said,
or do we have a bad connection?

Some of the locals sell their kids
for the money. They have no other means.

- That's right.
- Do you believe that?

- That slob bought a human being!
- Why doesn't the army do something?

They will bust a guy if they find out,
but they don't go looking for it.

The dislike I felt for that sergeant
has blossomed into instant hatred.

I read someplace the UN was here to liberate
these people. Must have been a misprint.

- I'm gonna do something. I'll talk to Henry.
- Henry? Our Henry?

Thought you said you were
gonna do something about it.

Of course it's illegal and immoral.

I can order Baker to release her and
he can pick her up again after he leaves.

Get in touch with his colonel.
Ask him to order her release.

- There's just one thing wrong with that.
- What?

Baker's colonel has a moose of his own.

That's rotten. It stinks.

- OK, OK.
- Excuse me.

Things dry quicker in my tent.

I never thought you'd chicken out.

If you haven't got any more guts than that,
I'll quit this outfit. I'll quit the war.

Really? Well, who's gonna break the news
to Truman and MacArthur.

Hey, Young Hi, can we
talk to you for a minute?

- You got washing?
- No, no, no, no. Uh...

You understand that it's wrong
for human beings to own each other?

Roger wilco, Captain-san.

Yeah, but... do you really understand?

Yes. I make English perfect.
Speak very goodly.

Hello, Joe. What do you know?
You got candy bar for mother? She sick.

That's goodly enough for me.

- Why do you stay with this Baker?
- Are you in love with that slob?

- What means "slob"?
- It's a way of referring to another person.

Roger wilco. Don't love Baker slob-san.
Don't make monkey business with him.

Look, we can help you get away from Baker.

You can go back to Seoul
or anywhere you want.

To run away, I dishonour my family.

Sergeant pay money for me.
I can leave only when he say.

- Is it possible this kid likes her work?
- She doesn't understand. She's too young.

I must work now. Must wash more socks,
press shirts and shine boots.

Where were you when
I wanted to get married?

Go ahead, but tell Baker slob-san that Captain
Pierce wants to see him on the double.

- You get it?
- I get it, Captain-san. Roger wilco.

Sergeant, we've never had anybody
in this outfit who owned a moose.

We don't believe in it. It's very un-American.
It's un-Korean. It's un-everybody.

Therefore I order you to release
this person you've bought.

- Sir...
- That is a direct order.

- You heard the captain.
- I want her off this post

and on the way back to her family
by tomorrow morning. Dismissed.

- Dismissed.
- What are you guys doin'?

- Buckin' to be chaplains?
- Stand at attention.

I've been in the army a long time,
and no meat-cutter is gonna work me over.

So save that GI crapola
for the folks back home.

Crapola? Will you...
Make a note of that for his court martial.

You got a pencil?

I'm a transient. Your authority over me
is limited, and you know it.

So you can just stop
tryin' to push me around.

Now, is there anything else, sir?

You know, you're a pretty decent guy
at that, Baker. Right?

And smart, too. Here, sit down.

Baker, would you be interested
in selling Young Hi?

Yeah, we've always wanted
a moose of our own.

- A good transportation moose.
- A one-owner-type moose.

- You just gave me a lecture...
- You gotta swing with the times.

Now, look, you paid $500 for her, right?

- We'll give you six.
- For Young Hi?

- You're outta your mind.
- Have a martini.

Oh, thanks. I taught that kid
laundry, cooking, sewing...

Well, I realise she's not
just another pretty face.

I could get double that for her in Seoul.
But I ain't interested.

- Time's a-wastin'.
- Whoa. Stick around.

- We'll buy you more drinks.
- I'll take a rain check.

See ya, gentlemen.

- Do you believe that creep?
- Yeah, he's your basic moose owner.

Think it would look too suspicious
if he got run over by a jeep in the shower?

- I could say I took a wrong turn.
- I don't believe we can beat this joker.

Then what the hell are we doing here?

Why do we spend 18 hours a day
putting people back together?

Doesn't that have any meaning?
What's the purpose of that? Practice?

We gotta get that kid away from him.

How?

What do we do best? Think.

How do we get her by drinkin' gin?

I mean our real, if only, talent.

- Operate on him.
- Right.

Ten bucks.

Too rich for me.

Your ten. I bump 50.

- That puts me away.
- Yeah, me too.

Whaddaya say, Doc?

Just a minute, handsome stranger.

He's got a pair o' kings,

an ace,

and garbage.

Got that?

Any time, Doc.

Uh, your 50 and 50 more.

I call the raise.

I'll take two.

Two good ones, off the top.

He kept the kings and the ace kicker.

He bought a deuce... and another ace.

He's got aces and kings.

I bet 100.

And another 100, sweetheart.

You're bluffin'.

I call.

Aces up.

No good.

Three deuces.

You bet 150 bucks on three lousy deuces?

I'm putting my sister through
barber college. Any questions?

He workin' on an open-end straight flush.

All diamonds. He's got the two, three,
four and five, and a jack of... spades.

I need a top card.

Dealer takes one.

Shuffling, shuffling...

The card he bought is...

Hey, wait a minute. Something's blocking me.

Whaddaya say, Doc? What's your bet?

What's your rush?
You got another war to go to?

Uh, I'm still blocked.

Oh boy, am I blocked.

- Bet or check, Doc.
- I'm thinking.

OK, the trouble's in the shower.

I mean, the trouble's fixed.
I'm... I'm unblocked.

The card he bought is a six of clubs.

No flush, but a baby straight.

OK, partner, how much money
you got there in front of ya?

- About 750 bucks.
- Then that's the bet.

- If I call, it cleans me.
- It's only money.

- Baby straight.
- No.

A teensy-weensy flush.

You got over 1,000 bucks of my dough.

And let's not forget this little ol' IOU for 1200.

Oh, I'm good for it. I'll pay ya.

The understanding,
before we started, was a cash game.

- You took my IOU.
- Only because you're a fine human being.

- Now pay up, fine human being.
- I ain't got the money right now.

You wanna get even, Baker?

Get your IOU back and
1,000 of the money you lost?

Who do I have to kill?

Pick that up and put down
your pink slip on Young Hi.

- She's all yours. I explained the whole deal.
- You understand, Young Hi?

Roger wilco, Hawkeye slob-san.

- Boy, once she learns somethin'...
- Well, this is it.

- You're a good kid. If you ever need...
- OK, fine, Baker.

- Yeah. Well, you take it easy...
- Shove off.

Yes, sir. Goodbye, kid.

OK, now listen. You don't
belong to Baker any more.

Roger wilco. I belong to you.

No, no, no. Now you can
go back to your family.

- I paid the money. There's no dishonour.
- Go? I be good moose for Hawkeye slob-san.

Make shave for you, shine shoes,
make laundry, cooking on stove.

- You see. You be very satisfied.
- No, wait...

I get my gear. Start work. You see.
Everything be OK. You be happy like hell.

- Young... Young Hi!
- Yes, I come back.

Don't worry, Hawkeye-san.
I never leave you.

"Dear Dad, we had a little poker game
here today and it seems I won a person."

"Dear Dad, I know you always
wished I had a sister..."

"Dear Dad..."

Hey, there's Captain Pierce,
well-known surgeon and moose owner.

The man who coined the phrase
"No moose is good moose."

Drop dead, singly and/or collectively.

Told you he's one of the great phrasemakers.

Holy cow!

- We must be in the wrong tent.
- Hey, Hawkeye, come in here!

Yeah, get your butt in here.

Yes?

Hawkeye, somebody sneaked in here
and committed a neatness.

- Young Hi.
- Can you believe it?

The clothes are hung up,
no garbage on the floor, the place is clean.

All right, OK, calm down. I'm as offended
as you are by this repulsive tidiness.

It's all arranged. There's a truck leaving
this afternoon for Seoul and she'll be on it.

- Now, are you satisfied?
- OK.

But as soon as she's gone,
we dirty up the joint and get back to normal.

They don't call you the aristocrat
of the AMA for nothing.

- Please, no stay here with you?
- I told you.

You got a right to a life of your own.
And you're gonna have it.

- But I make you happy.
- No. So long, Young Hi. OK, driver, take off!

- I be good worker for you!
- Good luck, Young Hi.

Please, I want to stay! I don't want to go!

Good luck.

Oh, Hawkeye. Oh, your kisses
are driving me crazy.

And I'm only using one lip.

One question. Why are we sitting
in the middle of a minefield?

It's the only reservation I could get.
Every jeep in town was sold out.

Oh, oh! You're biting my throat.

Sorry. I got carried away
and started a tracheotomy.

- Ow!
- What is it?

I bit your dog tag.

Oh, Hawkeye, why do I go out with you?

Because I got class. I'm a high roller.

Someday, baby, all this will be yours.
The minefield, the cesspool - all of it.

- Hey, Hawk!
- Who is it?

Trapper, our neighbourhood
Peeping Tom. Turn off those lights.

- We got trouble.
- What, wounded?

- I didn't hear any choppers. What is it?
- The moose is back in town.

She left when they stopped for gas.
She hitched a ride back.

Swell.

- What's the idea?
- I your moose, Hawkeye-san. I come back.

- But you're free.
- Hawk, listen.

We're sympathetic, you know.
But this kid is part moose, part yo-yo.

Hold it.

Excuse us a second.

Just stand there. Don't clean anything.

Listen, tomorrow we send Ho-Jon into Seoul,
we tell him to find her family,

he brings one of them back here,
and then they take her away.

What do we do until they get here?

- Teach her to be something besides a moose.
- Give her a "person" lesson.

Bingo.

We can start de-moosifying her right now.

- Is she gonna stay here?
- Well, Saint Frank is in Tokyo.

Hawkeye-san make sleep in bed.
I make sleep so.

No, no, no. You take that bunk over there.

You can't make sleep like that.

I'd like to make a little sleep over here.

Sleep tight.

Don't let the bedbugs bite.

I'll take the four o'clock feeding.

OK, once more now.
We've never met before, right?

- Right.
- OK. Hello there, I'm Doctor Pierce.

- How do you do? I am Young Hi.
- Very good.

- Morning.
- Hello, Joe. Whatcha know?

No, no. Forget that. Will you get lost?

Gee, a person says good morning
and gets his ear bit off.

- Hello there, I'm Doctor Pierce.
- How do you do? I am Young Hi.

- Good. Keep going.
- I am very pleased to meet you.

- I am good?
- You are beautiful.

- Yes, I am.
- That you understand, huh?

Uh, Lieutenant Jones, Lieutenant Scorch.

- Hi.
- How do you do? I am pleased to meet you.

My name is Young Hi.

- I am also beautiful.
- Yes. Yes, you are.

And when you meet people, don't look down.

Look them in the eye. And don't back off.

We're all the same. Get it?

Excuse it. Not same.

- How do you figure?
- You need shave.

- Hey, Hawkeye.
- Yeah?

Ho-Jon's back.
He brought the head of her family.

That's the man we wanna see.

Hey, Ho-Jon!

- That's the head of the family?
- He's Young Hi's brother.

His name is Benny.

Hiya, guys. How's the action?

An Eagle Scout he ain't.

Go get Young Hi, OK?

Did, uh... did Ho-Jon explain to you
why we sent for you?

You bought Young Hi from Baker.
Now you wanna dump her.

What's the beef? She goofin' off?

The Dead End Kids in Korea.

I'll give this back when you're 50.

- You're here to take your sister home.
- We don't want a moose.

No refund, guys. You understand that?

- We don't want any money. She's free to go.
- Just like that? You guys are nuts.

- Hi, Benny!
- Hey, Young Hi. How are you, baby?

How do you do? I am pleased to see you.
How is Mother and Father?

Pop's OK. Mom's still
delivering for the black market.

- One Man's Family.
- They must be treating you OK.

- You look real big-time.
- Learn many things here.

My English is much more goodly.
I work in hospital.

- Hey, that's terrific.
- But... you've come to take me?

You come back to Seoul and we'll get
1,000, maybe 1500 bucks for you, easy.

- Hold it. You can't let yourself be sold again.
- You're brushing her off. What do you care?

I may get on my knees
and punch this kid in the nose.

- You got a chance for a life of your own.
- No more slobs.

What's all this jive? You know the score.

- I have duty to my family.
- And what about your duty to yourself?

- That is not how I was raised.
- You tell 'em, baby. Let's get your gear.

- Young Hi.
- Will you guys lay off?

I remember everything you taught me.

Everything. And I am grateful.

- We got an E for effort, anyway.
- That's the way the moose bounces.

- We came close, you know?
- Yeah, for a minute there...

Yeah.

- I could use a drink.
- A triple, I think.

- I know how to make martini drink.
- Young Hi. Are you staying?

Not only staying - also not going.

I tell Benny most important thing
I learned from you. Who to tell "Shove off!"

- Hey, terrific!
- Attagirl!

Lieutenant Jones teach me make
martini drink. She has much knowledge.

- Well, so have you.
- But Young Hi have something else.

I am also beautiful.

Hey, we got a letter from Young Hi.

"I am fine and wish you are the same."

"I learn much knowledge
here in convent school in Seoul."

"The sisters say one day
maybe I can work as helper to nurse."

"I thank once more your efforts,
and ask God to bless you."

"I write that to please the sisters.
I am Buddhist person."

"With all love and respect,
your friend, Young Hi. Roger wilco."

- Roger wilco.
- She's a good kid.

Yeah. You know something? I really miss her.
I wish she was here right now.

- Yeah, me too.
- Yeah, I could use a shave.

And look at these boots.
I haven't had a decent shine since...