Winchester receives notice that his continued hitch in the army has taken his name off the list to become head of thoracic surgery at Massachusetts General. He becomes insufferable. He gets so fed up with the way he is treated that he decides to stop talking to anyone. A second plot has to do with a young medic who has been through hell, rescuing people in horrible condition. One day on a bus full of casualties, he can't remember who he is or why he is there. Sidney Freedman is called in an he discusses the Billfold Syndrome where a man looks at his billfold and can't place himself. Meanwhile, the boys make up a phony telegram to Charles, saying he is still under consideration for the job. Sidney decides to use hypnosis on the young medic and the gang provides background sounds. Excellent episode.
5 Reviews
Guest starring Alan Arbus and Kevin Geer
safenoe3 September 2020
Allan Arbus is back as Sidney Freedman, and he helps out a medic, Jerry Nielson (Kevin Geer) who has suffered amnesia from the battlefield. Sure, love may be a battlefield, but it can cause amnesia in M*A*S*H.
I like the Hawkeye/BJ/Potter/Winchester quartet.
I like the Hawkeye/BJ/Potter/Winchester quartet.
One of the best shows of the entire series, bar none
metalrox_20002 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Without a doubt, this is one of the best episodes in the entire run. The story is acting with amazing brilliance, and Kevin Geer does an outstanding job as the ill-fated Sergeant Nielson.
In the subplot, Charles is upset that his post in Korea as port of the M*A*S*H unit has resulted in him missing a dream job in the states. During this time we are introduced to a fresh faced, yet seasoned Sergeant Jerry Nielson. Nielson is very much like Radar. On the outside, he seems like a miscast kid in a war who is able to handle things with such skill, you can only marvel. This is n display as Hawkeye compliments Nielson on the way the wounded have been bandaged and cared for. During a scene in the OR, Nielson admits that he wanted to be a doctor, but had to take care of his mother and younger brother.
Charles, the victim of a prank telegraph, vows to never to speak to anyone in camp again. The 4077 is again overrun with wounded. Neilson returns with the wounds, but Hawkeye and BJ realize via the poor job bandaging, that something is amiss. They soon learn that Neilson has zero memory of who he is.
Dr. Freedman is recruited to help, and gets BJ and Hawkeye to agree to react elements that may have led to Neilson losing his memory.
What occurs next is one of the most dramatic, engaging, and possibly tear jerking scene through the show's entire run. As BJ and Hawkeye react the sounds of bombs falling, and the voices of Neislon's comrades, that make a startling discovery to what led Neilson to lose his memory. Neilson had discovered the body of his brother, dead in a fox hole. As Neilson comments about his promise to look after him, because he's the oldest, Hawkeye grimly comments "Not that too!", giving the viewer an insight to the fragile existence of Neilson's family life.
Once the session is over, Freedman brings Neilson out of his hypnotic state. After realizing what happened, emotions overwhelm Neislon, and he leans forward, crying on Freedman's shoulder.
There have been many one and done characters through the shows run, but Jerry Neilson remains one of the most memorable. The story here is well told, and the viewer should a box of Kleenex handy for the pay off of the tale of Jerry Neilson.
In the subplot, Charles is upset that his post in Korea as port of the M*A*S*H unit has resulted in him missing a dream job in the states. During this time we are introduced to a fresh faced, yet seasoned Sergeant Jerry Nielson. Nielson is very much like Radar. On the outside, he seems like a miscast kid in a war who is able to handle things with such skill, you can only marvel. This is n display as Hawkeye compliments Nielson on the way the wounded have been bandaged and cared for. During a scene in the OR, Nielson admits that he wanted to be a doctor, but had to take care of his mother and younger brother.
Charles, the victim of a prank telegraph, vows to never to speak to anyone in camp again. The 4077 is again overrun with wounded. Neilson returns with the wounds, but Hawkeye and BJ realize via the poor job bandaging, that something is amiss. They soon learn that Neilson has zero memory of who he is.
Dr. Freedman is recruited to help, and gets BJ and Hawkeye to agree to react elements that may have led to Neilson losing his memory.
What occurs next is one of the most dramatic, engaging, and possibly tear jerking scene through the show's entire run. As BJ and Hawkeye react the sounds of bombs falling, and the voices of Neislon's comrades, that make a startling discovery to what led Neilson to lose his memory. Neilson had discovered the body of his brother, dead in a fox hole. As Neilson comments about his promise to look after him, because he's the oldest, Hawkeye grimly comments "Not that too!", giving the viewer an insight to the fragile existence of Neilson's family life.
Once the session is over, Freedman brings Neilson out of his hypnotic state. After realizing what happened, emotions overwhelm Neislon, and he leans forward, crying on Freedman's shoulder.
There have been many one and done characters through the shows run, but Jerry Neilson remains one of the most memorable. The story here is well told, and the viewer should a box of Kleenex handy for the pay off of the tale of Jerry Neilson.
My favorite episode of the series
Draco113819 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This episode touched me and really made me feel and just was a great example of when someone truly acts well it doesn't seem like they're acting at all. A medic who observes the camp one day arrives the following to see Hawkeye and BJ question his work on the bandaging when the medic asks them if he can help them and asks if he is who his dog-tag says he is. Realizing he's not kidding they send for Dr. Freedman. The episode features two other funny subplots, but for me the main plot is what gets me and made this my favorite episode of the series. Together with Dr. Freedman, hypnosis, and BJ and Hawkeye they recreate the last night the medic was in the field. They come to find out the medic has found his brother dead on the field and is understandably distraught and very emotional. When Sidney wakes the medic from his trance he remembers who he is and again bursts into tears and goes into the waiting arms of Dr. Freedman who assures him they'll talk about it, it will be okay, and they're there for him. Hawkeye rubs his shoulder and it looks so real it just gets me every time.
Brilliant Program!!
ellisel22 October 2008
Entertainer Alan Alda did a brilliant job in directing "The Billfold Syndrome" in the 1978-1979 Television Season. The opening clip of the episode had Corporal Kilnger picking up trash near the confines of the 4077th. Major Winchester -- in a big disgust -- ripped up a letter he received in the mail. Corporal Klinger picked up the letter knowing about Major Winchester's rejection to become head thoracic surgeon at Boston General Hospital. He acted in anger and tore the letter into ten pieces. All of the sudden, the incoming wounded soldiers arrived at the 4077th; Sergeant Nielsen arrived with the wounded soldiers to see the whole camp observe surgery.
Major Winchester -- in his haste -- developed a case of the crankiness in surgery. For one thing, he resented the fact that Sergeant Nielsen was in surgery to observe the wounded patients recover well. For a second thing, he was passed up to become chief thoracic surgeon as Boston General Hospital because of his assignment to the 4077th during the war; moreover, he would declare war on everyone in camp by not speaking to anybody at all. Little did he knew that Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt would make him talk in this episode.
Before the start of Act Two, Sergeant Nielsen started to develop a sudden memory loss. This occurred after the doctors found out the haphazard bandaging and dressing of the wounded soldiers on the bus. Colonel Potter would notify Major Freedman about the situation where he would recognize this blank. Meanwhile, Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt sent a phony telegraph to Major Winchester about his "plans" to become chief thoracic surgeon at Boston General Hospital. This was the only way they could get him to talk within the camp; the act turned out to be a despicable act on their behalf. Major Freedman would eventually have Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt play the roles of corpsmen to find his brother. They would gradually realize that Sergeant Nielsen's brother could not be found in the battle field. In reality, his hometown was Hartford, Connecticut in this episode; and more specifically, they would discuss this traumatic ordeal in greater depth. A Sensational 14!!
Major Winchester -- in his haste -- developed a case of the crankiness in surgery. For one thing, he resented the fact that Sergeant Nielsen was in surgery to observe the wounded patients recover well. For a second thing, he was passed up to become chief thoracic surgeon as Boston General Hospital because of his assignment to the 4077th during the war; moreover, he would declare war on everyone in camp by not speaking to anybody at all. Little did he knew that Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt would make him talk in this episode.
Before the start of Act Two, Sergeant Nielsen started to develop a sudden memory loss. This occurred after the doctors found out the haphazard bandaging and dressing of the wounded soldiers on the bus. Colonel Potter would notify Major Freedman about the situation where he would recognize this blank. Meanwhile, Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt sent a phony telegraph to Major Winchester about his "plans" to become chief thoracic surgeon at Boston General Hospital. This was the only way they could get him to talk within the camp; the act turned out to be a despicable act on their behalf. Major Freedman would eventually have Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt play the roles of corpsmen to find his brother. They would gradually realize that Sergeant Nielsen's brother could not be found in the battle field. In reality, his hometown was Hartford, Connecticut in this episode; and more specifically, they would discuss this traumatic ordeal in greater depth. A Sensational 14!!
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