- While Father Mulcahy frantically tries to prepare for a visit from a respected cardinal, Hawkeye has to deal with a soldier who cannot donate blood for his buddy because it turns out that he himself has leukemia.
- Father Mulcahy is not acting like himself at all. An upcoming visit by his superior, Cardinal Reardon, has the good padre behaving like a petty, competitive child. On the eve of the biggest oration of his career, Hawkeye calls Father Mulcahy away from his sermon writing to the bedside of Pvt. Gary Sturgis (Patrick Swayze). Sturgis wants to remain at the 4077th, to watch over his unconscious buddy; and if compatible, he wants to be a donor for his friend. On Sunday morning, feeling unprepared to deliver his sermon, Father Mulcahy stands up in his bathrobe and quietly, tells a real life parable: the story of two men.—LA-Lawyer
- Father Mulcahy tries to prepare himself and the camp for a visit from Cardinal Reardon, a VIP to both the Army and the church. Hawkeye, meanwhile, prepares to tell a young soldier why he can't donate blood to his wounded buddy; Hawkeye and B.J. have discovered the soldier has leukemia.—Anonymous
- Father Mulcahy is not acting like himself at all. An upcoming visit by his superior, Cardinal Reardon (Ray Middleton), has the good padre behaving like a petty, competitive child. Reardon is the top cardinal and is touring Korea. 4077th MASH is on his agenda. Reardon will arrive on Sunday morning. Mulcahy has to come up with a riveting sermon for the Sunday mass (which Reardon will attend) and only has 2 days to do so. In prep for the visit, Mulcahy bans all gambling in the camp, much to the chagrin of enlisted men (especially Rizzo (G W Bailey)). In response the men take the game underground, when earlier they had the game in the motor pool out in the open. Mulcahy catches them again in the supply tent. Klinger tries to explain that there is more than a few crummy dollars at stake in the Cardinals visit. The Officer's club has porno posters and a fight breaks out, both of which enrage Mulcahy who calls the entire camp "Stinkers" as they cant even behave for 2 days. Potter is more calm as he says that it was payday a day ago and the men need to let off some steam. Mulcahy is afraid that everyone will come to his sermon unshaven and hungover. Potter sets a curfew for midnight at the O club.
On the eve of the biggest oration of his career, Hawkeye calls Father Mulcahy away from his sermon writing to the bedside of Pvt. Gary Sturgis (Patrick Swayze). Sturgis wants to remain at the 4077th, to watch over his unconscious buddy Lowry; and if compatible, he wants to be a blood donor for his friend. Lowry needs surgery, but BJ cant go in till his infection (his pulse is down, pressure is up, temperature is 102 and he is losing blood) is cured. Lowry starts to get better, but as Hawkeye tests Sturgis's blood before starting the blood donation, he finds that Sturgis has Leukemia. Sturgis forces it out of Hawkeye when Hawkeye insists on Sturgis being shifted to Tokyo General.. He is the first stages and there is a possibility of a remission.
Cardinal Reardon arrives post midnight to see Igor saunter out of the officer's club and fall flat, and Rizzo conducting a craps game in the VIP tent (where Reardon was supposed to be staying). Mulcahy is furious and he runs into Hawkeye who tells Mulcahy that he just had to tell a patient that he had Leukemia. Mulcahy spends the entire night speaking to Sturgis. Sturgis refuses to leave for Tokyo and wants to spend 2 more days with Lowry.
On Sunday morning, feeling unprepared to deliver his sermon, Father Mulcahy stands up in his bathrobe and quietly, tells a real life parable: the story of two men. He talks about his selfish behavior when he knew he was only looking for a recognition from Reardon and the selfless behavior of Sturgis, who wanted to stay at 4077 for his friend, even though he had been told of his own impending death. Mulcahy talks about how God guides their actions. God created us so he could he here himself via us. Reardon's visit is a success and Mulcahy has found new meaning in his work
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