Change Day

"Change Day" is the 9^th episode of season 6 of the television series M*A*S*H, first airing on November 8 1977.

An upcoming exchange of Army scrip gives Maj. Winchester an idea for making some fast money. He visits several local merchants and buys up all their accumulated scrip at 10% of face value, intending to trade it in and keep the difference as profit. Capt. Pierce and Capt. Hunnicutt learn of this scheme and make plans of their own to foil it, with the help of a friendly MP. Pierce is entrusted with $400, a wounded soldier's gambling winnings, but the money is stolen during a brawl in the mess tent. Father Mulcahy broadcasts an appeal to the thief's conscience that rapidly turns into a fire-and-brimstone condemnation of the crime.

The MP sets up a roadblock, keeping Winchester from returning to the camp in time to exchange all the scrip he has bought. No one is allowed in or out during the trade, but Pierce and Hunnicutt meet him at the entrance, buy $400 in scrip for $40 cash, and are able to refund the wounded soldier's money. Winchester ends up with a pile of now-worthless scrip and a sizable cash loss. At the same time, Mulcahy finds another $400, left by the unidentified thief, and donates it to the local orphanage at Pierce's suggestion.

Meanwhile, Cpl. Klinger has devised a new ploy to get out of the Army: enter West Point and deliberately get himself expelled. However, he must first pass the admissions examination, proctored by Hunnicutt and Col. Potter; it proves far too difficult for him and he completely fails.

Trivia

1 of 2 episodes where Private Igor Straminsky was played by Peter Riegert, instead of Jeff Maxwell, who portrayed Igor in 59 episodes over the run of the show.