Ep 15. Officers Only

In the season 2 episode 15 of M*A*S*H entitled "Officers Only," the doctors and nurses of the 4077th are dealt with an interesting situation. After the plumbing in the nurses' tent breaks, and the officers' club has a pool table, some of the nurses decide to come over and use it. While this doesn't seem like a particularly strange occurrence, it's revealed that women aren't allowed in the club.

This creates a rift between the male and female characters, with the men and women taking opposing sides. Hawkeye and Trapper argue that the nurses should be allowed to use the club like anyone else, while some of the male officers feel that it's a matter of tradition and protocol.

As the tension between the genders increases, the situation is further complicated when one of the nurses, Lt. Carlson, is injured in an accident while performing a medical procedure. The surgeons need to perform emergency surgery on Lt. Carlson but due to rules in place, the male doctors have to operate on her.

Meanwhile, Hawkeye takes it upon himself to convince Lt. Colonel Henry Blake, the commanding officer, to let the nurses use the club. He argues that the rules regarding the club are outdated and that they should be amended to reflect the changing times. Colonel Blake agrees, and Hawkeye and Trapper decide to throw a party for the nurses to celebrate their new-found right to use the club.

However, not everyone is on board with the idea, and tensions continue to simmer. As the party gets underway, Lt. Colonel Blake receives word that a high-ranking officer is coming to the camp for a visit. In order to save face, Blake decides to disband the party early, leaving the female characters feeling slighted.

Overall, the episode deals with issues of gender equality and tradition. It raises questions about whether traditions that were once considered sacrosanct should be re-examined in light of changing times and social norms. Ultimately, the doctors and nurses in M*A*S*H must work together despite their differences in order to save lives and provide medical care to those in need.