To Market, to Market (M*A*S*H episode)

Infobox Television episode
Title = To Market, to Market
Series = M*A*S*H


Caption =
Season = 1
Episode = 2
Airdate = September 24, 1972
Production = J303
Writer = Burt Styler
Director = Michael O'Herlihy
Guests = G. Wood

Robert Ito

Jack Soo

Odessa Cleveland

John C. Johnson
Episode list = List of "M*A*S*H" episodes
Prev = "M*A*S*H the Pilot"
Next = "Requiem for a Lightweight"

"To Market, to Market" is an episode from the television series "M*A*S*H". It was the second episode broadcast and aired on September 24, 1972; its repeat was April 29, 1973. It was written by Burt Styler and directed by Michael O'Herlihy.

Guest cast is G. Wood as General Hammond, Odessa Cleveland as Lt. Ginger Bayliss, Robert Ito as Lin, Jack Soo as Charlie Lee and John C. Johnson as Truck Driver.__TOC__

Overview

The black market has knocked off the 4077^th's supplies again. Pierce and McIntyre meet with a black marketer and agree to trade Blake's 100-year-old vintage desk for a new batch of hydrocortisone, which they desperately need.

Detailed story

A general comes in wounded and Pierce orders hydrocortisone. The nurse tells him that they are out. After the session, Pierce and McIntyre want to know why there isn't any hydrocortisone left. They said that whoever filled out the previous month's requisitions ought to be given a pint of castor oil and locked in a closet. Major Houlihan says she did the requisition and that she ordered the hydrocortisone. Burns adds that it, along with half of all the rest of the supplies, was hijacked by the black market. Burns then informs them that there is a truck of supplies waiting to be unloaded outside. When Pierce and McIntyre get there, they discover the truck is empty.

Pierce and McIntyre go to Blake's office to tell him of the theft. When they walk in they see that Blake has a 100 year old oak desk. They tell Blake about the theft and he asks them what they want him to do. They suggest that he call General Hammond and demand some action. Blake says he can't do that. Radar comes in and tells Blake that there is a phone call from General Hammond. Blake asks Hammond for more hydrocortisone, but Hammond says no.

Radar finds the name of a black marketer, Charlie Lee, who Pierce and McIntyre go see. Right after entering his building, they decide to go back outside and hire somebody to look after the jeep. By the time they get there, about ten seconds after leaving, the jeep had already been stripped. They meet Charlie Lee and ask him about hydrocortisone. He says that he has a box and that it costs $10,000. They then offer to trade the hydrocortisone for Blake's desk.

Charlie Lee shows up at the 4077 dressed as a South Korean General. While Lee is inspecting the desk, Burns tells Lee's driver to move his jeep. Lee's driver then tries to sell Burns a stolen watch. Lee agrees to the trade, but the desk must be ready to be put on his truck as exactly 0600 the next morning.

Radar wakes up Pierce and McIntyre at 0500 the next morning. They sneak out of The Swamp and into Blake's office. Frank comes by to check up on the office and meets up with Houlihan. As they head off to the supply tent, Burns locks the door. Radar goes out to try to convince the truck driver to wait for the desk. Pierce and McIntyre cut down a wall in Blake's office and carry out the desk. Before they can get it on the truck, Burns recognizes the driver as the same guy who tried to sell him a watch the previous day and tells him to leave.

Burns comes around the building to find Pierce and McIntyre on their knees pretending to pray at the desk which they covered up. When Pierce and McIntyre catch up to Radar, he tells them that the truck already left. Pierce tells Radar to get O'Brien.

Blake and Burns go to Blake's office and find the desk is gone. As they go out the wall that has been cut down, They notice the desk, attached to a helicopter, fly by. Charlie Lee shows up with two-hundred vials of hydrocortisone.

Goofs

* The pilot episode of "M*A*S*H" began with the subscript "Korea, 1950" and all dates specified in the first and second season set the show in 1951. Since Hydrocortisone wasn't introduced until 1952, it wouldn't have been in use at the time the episode is set.