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It was another busy day in the O.R. Trapper and Hawkeye were playing name that tune and Frank was his usual irritating self.
Radar enters with news for Henry "You're going home"
Having gained enough points Henry was being discharged and shipped home.
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| Probably the happiest to hear the news were Frank and Margaret. "Finally, finally you're going to command this outfit."
But not everyone was pleased, Henry was like a Father to Radar. "My own father didn't have me until he was 63, and the first time we played peek-a-boo together he had a stroke." said Radar.
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Meanwhile Henry has managed to get a call in to Bloomington to tell his wife the good news.
"Honey, oh please don't do that, honey please."
Is she crying?" asks Hawkeye.
"No she wants to re-cover the furniture." replies Henry.
Before he can say much more the line goes dead. |
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Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar take Henry for a final meal at Rosie's bar.
"Henry, we're giving you this party. You know why?" asks Hawkeye
Because I'm going home?"
"Wrong, because you're one helluva human being."
They also gave him a going away gift, a suit made specially for him in Tokyo.
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Finally the time has arrived for Henry's departure and the whole camp has turned out to bid him farewell.
"Bless you Henry Blake, your work here will never be forgotten." said Father Mulcahy
Just as he was about to leave Hawkeye whispered something to Henry who then walked up to Margaret, put his arms around her and gave her a long kiss.
To a chorus of 'For he's a jolly good fellow' Henry walks up to the pad.
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| The chopper that was to take Henry was carrying incoming wounded and Henry was reluctant to leave until they were taken care of.
Henry couldn't leave without giving Radar a final Hug
"You behave yourself or I'm gonna come back and kick your butt"
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Later that same day as the doctors were again busy in O.R a tearful Radar entered
"I have a message. Lt Col. Henry Blake's plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan. It spun in. There were no survivors"
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Episode Background
After numerous arguments with the studio and a desire to do a show of his own McLean Stevenson made the decision that season three would be his last. Gene Reynolds and Larry Gelbart decided that instead of doing a standard episode about a character leaving the show they would take the opportunity to make a statement about the senselessness of war.
The final O.R scene where Radar announces Henry's death was not included in the script distributed to the actors, who, apart from Alan Alda knew nothing of the shock ending. The filming was organized so that the O.R scenes would be the last to be shot. First they shot the opening scene where Henry was told he is going home. The crew assumed this was the end of the filming but then Gelbart handed out the final page of the script. The scene was shot without a rehearsal but because of a technical problem it had to be done a second time.
Obviously the episode is best remembered for the departure on McLean/Henry but it is also the final episode to feature Wayne Rogers who had also decided not to return for the fourth season.
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