Ep 13. Deal Me Out

In "Deal Me Out," the thirteenth episode of the second season of M*A*S*H, the doctors of the 4077th are left with a bit of downtime and decide to engage in a friendly poker game. As they play, they are interrupted by a patient who requires an emergency tracheotomy. The procedure goes smoothly, but the patient is still in critical condition and requires further treatment.

Meanwhile, Colonel Blake receives a visit from a Colonel Lacey, who is in charge of a nearby unit. Lacey is perceived as pompous and obnoxious by the 4077th staff, but Colonel Blake is obligated to work with him on a joint medical project. To diffuse any potential conflicts, Blake sets up a golf game between the two colonels.

Back at the poker game, Hawkeye and Trapper invite Nurse Margie Cutler to join them. As the game continues, tensions rise between the players and Margie accuses Hawkeye of cheating. When she threatens to report him to the authorities, Hawkeye becomes defensive and storms out of the tent.

The next day, Colonel Lacey arrives for the golf game, but Blake is unable to play due to an emergency surgery. This forces Lacey to join Hawkeye and Trapper for a round of golf instead. As they play, they start to bond and Lacey reveals some personal information about himself.

Meanwhile, the situation with the patient worsens, and the doctors must make some difficult decisions about his care. They are able to stabilize him, but he remains unconscious and in critical condition.

As the episode ends, Colonel Lacey leaves the 4077th with a newfound appreciation for the doctors' work and a newfound respect for Hawkeye and Trapper. The poker game continues, but Margie is absent, having been transferred to another unit.

"Deal Me Out" is a classic M*A*S*H episode that combines humor and drama in equal measure. The banter between the characters is as witty as ever, but the episode is not afraid to tackle serious medical issues. Fans of the show will appreciate the way it blends comedy and tragedy, and the episode's message about the importance of bonding with others despite our differences is as relevant today as it was when the show first aired over 45 years ago.