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Once the camp returns as normal, Trapper and Hawkeye are asked to perform a nose job on an enlisted man. Neither licensed to do the procedure, Hawkeye enlists his plastic surgeon, Robinson. However, when his friend comes to operate, Hawkeye becomes easily distrustful. When he and Trapper show Robinson to his tent, they are quickly met by Frank and Margaret who question the surgeons' motives. Deflecting, the Chief Surgeon immediately watches the plastic surgeon flirt with Margaret. As Robinson starts caressing the nurse's jowls, Hawkeye quickly begins to break up the exchange. Thinking the worst is over, the doctor is livid when he finds his old friend pinning Margaret to a supply tent table the next day. Quickly, Margaret scurries toward her husband. Hawkeye tells her to leave and knows in an instant that the once long friendship is over. All he has to do is pretend to keep up the friendly banter until Robinson leaves. After almost a year of lying, he better be an expert by now. Telling Trapper he has some thinking to do, Hawkeye makes his way through camp. Noticing the Head Nurse's tent, he takes a chance that she is inside.
"Margaret," Hawkeye calls out softly as he knocks on the nurse's tent door. He only waits a moment until the door opens. Quietly, Margaret lets her husband inside. Once the door closes, she clings to Hawkeye like a lifeline. He lets her cry into him while he soothes her.
"He's gone now. Trap and I saw him off and I swore him off," Hawkeye comforts. Looking up at her husband, Margaret asks, "You swore Robinson off?"
Nodding, Hawkeye replies, "How could I stay friends with the guy if he's trying to take my wife?"
Margaret merely laughs at the remark stating, "Some marriage this is. We have to sneak around just to be together. It's no wonder Robinson thought I was available."
"Hey, this was not your fault. He's a pig," Hawkeye reassures wondering if he is taking his own ruse too far. Voicing his opinion, Hawkeye waits for his wife to respond. He notices her shake her head. Motioning toward her cot, Margaret explains, "I think we've both taken this too far."
"Then what do we do? We can't just pack up and leave."
"Well, first, I'm going to break off my friendship with Frank," Margaret replies adding, "and I think I need to get engaged."
"To who? According to the camp, I'm still a confirmed bachelor," Hawkeye remarks with a glint in his eyes. The nurse smiles and leans forward.
"Not to you. Donald Penobscott."
Confused, Hawkeye merely stares at his wife until she explains her scenario. Finally understanding that Donald is another ruse, Hawkeye smirks, "You have your own Tuttle!"
Rolling her eyes, Margaret answers, "My dad has a friend whose son I've been friends with for years. He owes me a favor. I hope you don't mind sending me love letters."
"Never. Just remind me to find a new hand. I think someone will suspect my writing."
"Speaking of writing, have you written your dad recently?" Margaret asks. Hawkeye nods adding, "He said to tell you hello. Apparently receiving an early Christmas present and a long letter wasn't enough for him."
"It was actually a late Birthday present. You're sure your dad likes slippers?" Margaret asks wondering how Korean yarn differs from the yarn back in the States.
"In sole confidence, he told me he loved them," Hawkeye teases before taking notice of the time. About to stand, he quickly notices his wife's hand hold onto his.
"Or," Margaret leans in and flirts, "You could tell Trapper you spent the night with a nurse?"
Bridging the distance, Hawkeye mumbles, "I can do that."
The next morning, Hawkeye goes back to his tent only to find his boots are broken. Dodging mud puddles, Hawkeye makes his way to breakfast, grabs a tray, food, and then sits down near Margaret. Noticing him grumble, Margaret asks, "Something wrong?"
"Yeah, it's these boots! The sole's coming off."
"You can ask my father," Margaret whispers. Shaking his head, Hawkeye replies, "I ordered a new pair, they just haven't come in yet."
Margaret merely nods because Trapper comes to the table.
"What are you two kids talking about," Trapper questions.
"I need new boots," Hawkeye grumbles.
"Didn't you order some months ago?" He asks. Hawkeye nods. Finally fed up with his own boots, Hawkeye practically begs for a requisition form. Finding out he cannot simply use a form, Hawkeye ends up on a wild goose chase that ultimately comes to Frank signing a discharge form for Klinger. Confiding in Margaret, she agrees to get Frank to sign the papers if they organize a surprise party for Frank's birthday. Hawkeye wants to protest especially after the conversation he and Margaret have only a day and a half before. However, Margaret still feels she owes the annoying, terrible doctor something.
Agreeing, Trapper exclaims, "'It's a deal!'"
"'It is not! I have just run out of hypocrisy! My dignity tank is getting dangerously low! You expect me to drag twenty screaming people to a party for Frank Burns and paint smiles on their faces? And presents? Half this camp spends its time sticking pins in little Frank Burns dolls! I will debase myself just so far for a pair of boots! Ha! Party for Frank Burns?'" Hawkeye argues before storming out of Margaret's tent and into a large puddle. Feet soaked, Hawkeye quickly agrees. With all of the favors taken care of and a party in place, Hawkeye can practically feel his feet warm up. Telling so to Trapper, the other surgeon asks, "Are you sure that's not just hypothermia."
"Ha ha," The Chief Surgeon deadpans before separating himself from his bunk mate, Hawkeye talks to other people in the camp he rounds up to attend Frank's party. However, everything falls apart as quickly as it comes together. With no requisition and cold feet, Hawkeye goes to supply and steals a few trash bags. Creating a makeshift boot, Hawkeye sequesters himself to his tent. Later in the day, Trapper asks his bunk mate if he is hungry. Declining his offer, Trapper quickly convinces him to eat.
Shocked by her husband's new apparel when he enters the mess tent, Margaret tries not to show any emotion until she catches him during rounds that night. Feeling awful, the nurse asks her husband about his leg.
"My leg is fine, but my foot needs a little waterproofing," He jokes.
"Was that party to get a new pair of boots?" Margaret asks shocked finally putting the pieces together. Rubbing his neck, Hawkeye states, "Among some other favors."
"The Army hasn't given you a new pair yet?" She asks. Sighing, her husband replies, "No, it got misplaced. I thought about making a new pair from the five hundred pair of diapers that were delivered here, but it's just not the same."
"Hawk," Margaret sighs. Soon her eyes brighten when she remembers what is in the supply tent.
"Come to my tent tonight, and I'll fix them," Margaret tells her husband just as a soldier calls out to them.
Entering the Head Nurse's tent just after his shift, Hawkeye notices his wife at her desk surrounded by small bottles.
"We had a crate of Cyanoacrylates delivered here by mistake about two months ago. I forgot about them until now," Margaret states. "Take off your boots and, I'll fix them."
Grinning widely, Hawkeye kisses his wife.
"You're the best!" He exclaims as he takes the trash bag and boots off. Reclining on the cot, Hawkeye watches as Margaret takes the glue and dabs it onto the boots. While she works, they joke about their life back home and Hawkeye tells her about his letters to and from his dad. An hour later, Margaret declares her work finished. Trying the shoes back on, Hawkeye declares, "I want to jump in puddles and see what happens!"
Shaking her head, Margaret replies, "Try it!"
"Come with me," Hawkeye pleads knowing no one is out this late at night. Shaking her head, Margaret counters, "Someone may see."
"They see you with Frank, and me with other nurses. What's the worst that can happen? We'll just pretend we're back in the States. Remember that time we got caught in the rain and I had to sneak into your apartment?"
Laughing, Margaret states, "My roommates teased me for a week."
Agreeing, the nurse puts her own boots on and the couple splashes around in the mud. Excited, Hawkeye exclaims, "They work!"
She smiles back and soundly kisses him. Hearing footsteps a minute later, Margaret quickly breaks the kiss and drags her husband back to her tent.
"That was close," She remarks once the door is shut. Looking up at her husband who smiles widely, she asks what he is thinking. Laughing, Hawkeye states, "Your face was priceless."
Margaret simply roles her eyes before telling him she is going to sleep. Hawkeye's face falls as he realizes that he cannot sleep in the tent that night since it will cause suspicion. Instead, he kisses his wife and leaves. Margaret watches her husband head back to The Swamp by jumping in all the puddles he can find.
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