Hawkeye (M*A*S*H episode)

Infobox Television episode
Title = Hawkeye
Series = M*A*S*H


Caption = Hawkeye talking about the thumb
Season = 4
Episode = 18 (90th overall)
Airdate = January 13, 1976 (U.S.)
Production =
Writer = Larry Gelbart and Simon Muntner
Director = Larry Gelbart
Guests =
Episode list = List of "M*A*S*H" episodes
Prev = "Der Tag"
Next = "Some 38th Parallels”"

"Hawkeye" was the 90th episode of the "M*A*S*H" television series, and 18th episode of the fourth season of the series. The episode first aired on January 13 1976 and was repeated on August 31, 1976 and was most notable for the fact that Alan Alda's character Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce was the only regular character to appear in this episode although the rest of the cast were credited.

Hawkeye Pierce, has an accident with a jeep, and is rescued by a South Korean family. To prevent himself from succumbing to a concussion, Hawkeye begins talking endlessly to the family, who can't understand a word he's saying.

Plot Synopsis

Hawkeye, driving back to camp from an aid station, swerves to avoid three Korean children who ran out onto the road. Hawkeye crashes the jeep, injuring himself in the process, and the children, who are unharmed, bring him into their house. There are six people living in the house, along with one dog-The Father (played by Philip Ahn), The Mother (played by Shizuko Hoshi), The Pregnant Woman (played by June Kyoto Lu), The Oldest Child (played by Susan Sakimoto) and The Younger Children (played by Jeff Osaka and Jayleen Sun)-and none of them speak any English.

Hawkeye gives a note to the Oldest Child, letting the camp know that he has been injured, telling her to take it to the camp in Ouijongbou. Knowing very little Korean himself, in fact "...just enough to get [his] face slapped."

Realizing that he has a concussion, Hawkeye begins talking endlessly to keep himself awake because "I'm afraid I'll die if I fall asleep while I have a concussion".

At the end of the episode, after telling practically his whole life story to the family, a jeep horn sounds outside, and the Oldest Child runs into the house. Hawkeye realises that Corporal Radar O'Reilly has come to get him. He thanks the family and leaves. Presumably, the next day Hawkeye returns to the family bearing gifts. For the Mother he has a grater "for vegetables", for the children some comics and candy, for the Father tobacco and for the pregnant girl he gives his name and his unit in Korean telling her to contact him when "it's time for the baby". The final joke of the episode comes when Hawkeye tastes what The Mother is cooking and surprised that it is meat. Realizing the Korean cultural cuisine, he asks where the dog is after noting it's absence. He is relieved upon being answered with the dog barking outside.