Plot

Hawkeye saves the life of a colonel who wants him reprimanded for disrespect. B.J. tries to save the marriage of a friend who found out his wife is cheating on him, and Frank is paranoid that all Koreans are hiding or burying bombs.

Frank and Hawkeye race back to the 4077 after spending an entire night at the site of a bus meeting a land mine. Tired, cranky Hawkeye splashes dirt on an uppity Col. by accident. Sgt. Zale turns to BJ for marital advice when he receives a letter from his wife, Hillda, confessing to an infidelity. Colonel Spiker, who took such an instant dislike to Hawkeye, wants to go to the 121st Evac.; he refuses to have the able surgeon anywhere near him, but Col. Potter orders Hawkeye to operate. Frank is bomb-crazy and he harangues the locals who work at the 4077. Margaret finds Hawkeye sleeping in a cot next to his angry Colonel; she credits Hawkeye with doing his best work and for saving the Colonel's life. Potter repeats similar words to Col. Spiker. BJ learns another lesson about Korea: the "moose" tradition. When BJ finds Zale hoist by the petard of his own double standard, he urges Zale to sign a forgiving letter to his wife. Frank urges everyone to dig for hidden bombs.—LA-Lawyer

Frank and Hawkeye race back to the 4077 after spending an entire night at the site of a Korean bus meeting a land mine. They spent the night tending to 40 civilians who were badly injured. They are stopped at a checkpoint manned by Col Spiker and his troops. Tired, cranky Hawkeye splashes dirt on an uppity Col. Spiker (Tim O'Connor) by accident. Spiker doesn't like Hawkeye's lack of military courtesy, and believes that surgeons think of nothing but medicine. Sgt. Zale (Johnny Haymer) turns to BJ for marital advice when he receives a letter from his wife, Hillda, confessing to an infidelity. Zale is mad at Hillda for not honoring their 9 yr marriage. Hillda says she want to be with Zale and this transgression was a stupid mistake and nothing else. BJ asks Zale to give her another chance, but he is not willing. Zale breaks his hand by punching a heater.

When Hawkeye had just passed Spike's checkpoint, Spike was hit by an enemy grenade attack and he and some locals were very badly hit. Hawkeye and Frank return to the checkpoint, collect Spike and bring him to the 4077th MASH. Spike needs urgent surgery. Colonel Spiker, who took such an instant dislike to Hawkeye, wants to go to the 121st Evac.; he refuses to have the able surgeon Hawkeye anywhere near him, but Col. Potter orders Hawkeye to operate. Spike vows to get back at Hawkeye for this, but this does not deter him. Hawkeye is assisted by Margaret and she witnesses how Hawkeye saved Spiker's life by removing a shrapnel from under his lungs near the heart muscle. The fragment was hard to find, but Hawkeye is thorough.

Zale gets BJ to write a letter to Hillda. Zale is still very angry and BJ doesn't complete the letter as he is called away to Post-Op.

Frank is bomb-crazy and he harangues the locals who work at the 4077. He suspects all of them are involved in subversive activities against the American Army. He even suspects a 6 yr old boy of smuggling arms inside his sandwich. Margaret finds Hawkeye sleeping in a cot next to his angry Colonel; she credits Hawkeye with doing his best work and for saving the Colonel's life. Twice during the night Spiker's chest tubes clogged up and Hawkeye knows that if he was not present, Spiker would have died. Potter repeats similar words to Col. Spiker. Spiker is still army to the core. He calls in Pierce and lets him know that he is "letting Pierce go" this time, on account on Potter's kind words for him. The robe, the hat, no shave, he is a disgrace to his commission. Pierce cant believe his ears.

Frank sees 2 locals burying something in the ground near the MASH compound. Frank urges everyone to dig for hidden bombs. Hawkeye and BJ witness Frank pull a kimchi pot out of the ground.

BJ learns another lesson about Korea: the "moose" tradition (a Korean girlfriend of the opposite sex). When BJ finds Zale hoist by the petard of his own double standard (he is OK with his own infidelity towards his wife, but accepting of hers towards him), he urges Zale to sign a forgiving letter to his wife.