McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 20 The Confidence Game

Set during World War II, McHale's Navy follows the antics of Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale and his misfit crew of PT Boat 73 stationed on the Pacific island of Taratupa. In season 1, episode 20 titled "The Confidence Game," the crew plays a dangerous game of espionage when they discover a Japanese agent is posing as a replaceable sailor, preparing for an attack on the US Naval Base.

As the episode begins, Captain Binghamton receives news that a Japanese submarine is headed their way. He orders Commander McHale and his miscreant PT Boat 73 crew to escort the base's critical supplies safely to the landing strip. However, when the crew receives word that a friendly Air Force plane with Colonel Harrigan and Major Evans are en route to Taratupa, they tweak their plans to include a bit of entertainment. McHale and his boys throw together a razzle-dazzle show with everything from fire tricks to beach bunnies to get the airmen a taste of island life.

Meanwhile, things get complicated when McHale and his men discover a new sailor, Ellis, is actually a Japanese spy. They manage to capture him, and in an effort to glean information about the Japanese plan, they employ a game of cat and mouse, posing as Japanese agents themselves. This introduces a riveting exchange of trust issues among the sailors as McHale and his first mate, George Christopher, attempt to outsmart the Japanese spy.

In addition to the espionage plotline, the episode also explores the love angles between crew members. Radiomen Willy Moss (played by Ron Foster) and Virgil Edwards (Carl Ballantine) are both vying for the attentions of Nurse Molly Turner. She's sweet on Willy but is unsure who to choose between the two sailors. As the episode progresses, she has to make a difficult decision.

"The Confidence Game" is a sequence of misadventures and mischiefs, culminating in a moment of pride for the crew as they save the US Naval Base and thwart the plans of the Japanese spy. The episode showcases the talented cast's range of comedic performances, particularly Ernest Borgnine as Lt. Commander Quinton McHale, Tim Conway as Ensign Parker, and Gavin MacLeod as Happy Haines. It is also peppered with moments of suspense while keeping the humor light-hearted, making it a classic episode of the beloved series.