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The next week, the camp learns that the famous reporter Clayton Kibbee will be coming to camp to write a story. Excited, the whole camp is mesmerized by his presence. At least until Hawkeye realizes the reporter writes lies. Noticing Kibbee aggrandizes a story about one of the patients, Hawkeye practically makes it his mission to out the reporter as the liar that he is and rants to anyone who will listen. Unfortunately, it's everyone at his table in the mess tent. Later, he complains to Margaret in post op telling her about when he confronts Kibbee about his writing habits.
"'And then he says, "Oh, don't worry, son"'," Hawkeye continues angry at the injustice the reporter puts in his work. Tired of his complaining as she fills out a report, Margaret sternly tells her husband, "'Pierce, enough.'"
Telling him that the story probably has all it's necessary elements, Hawkeye continues much to Margaret's chagrin, "'Oh, they were necessary to the story. Unfortunately they never happened.'"
"'He doesn't tell you how to practice medicine. You shouldn't tell him how to write'," Margaret informs him in no mood to listen to the newest injustice her husband creates.
"'What are you taking his side for?'" Hawkeye asks a little hurt. Angry that her husband will suggest such a thing Margaret defends, "'Why would I take his side?'"
Just at that moment, Kibbee comes in telling Margaret about the wine he has for them. Watching her husband grin at her like a Cheshire cat, Margaret whispers for him to stop before finding any other place to be. All she wants is a friendly talk and maybe make a professional connection. When the writer helps B.J. with his new motorcycle, Hawkeye becomes angrier thinking Kibbee is taking away everyone he holds dear. Sitting with B.J. that night in the Officer's Club, Hawkeye is almost disgusted with how his wife laughs so loudly at the man. The next morning, B.J. finds out his motorcycle is gone after Kibbie wakes him up and drunkenly asks for a ride. Hawkeye tells B.J. they should go find him and they do not too far from camp with a butt full of glass. B.J. checks on his motorcycle and finds it totaled. Bringing the reporter back into camp, Hawkeye tells of few of the staff to prep him for surgery while he and B.J. scrub up. Seeing the men head into the scrub room, Margaret follows them both offering her assistance and asking what happens.
"He totaled my bike," B.J. mourns as Hawkeye explains, "Kibbee decided to take B.J.'s bike for a joy ride last night and has to have his leg sewn up."
"And that needs both of you?" Margaret asks. Nodding, B.J. answers, "Someone has to work the anesthesia."
"I'll do it," Margaret answers not trusting the mustached surgeon.
The surgery goes well with no complications and a day later Kibbee leaves ordered to keep his leg propped. A week and a half later, Colonel Potter reads the article aloud to B.J., Hawkeye, and Father Mulcahey in the Mess Tent. Praising the reporter only slightly for his use of truth, Hawkeye and Father Mulcahey barely drown out B.J. who remarks about his broken motorcycle.
"'Sounds like I finally got through to him'," Hawkeye adds.
"'Wait. There's more'," Colonel Potter tells them as he reads the next article Kibbee is publishing which is just as outrageous as all his other stories. Realizing he should know better than to think the reporter changes any, Hawkeye excuses himself from the table to take a walk around the compound. Days like this one, when there is a lull in casualties are the days he despises. They leave him to think too much. Knocking on Margaret's tent door, Hawkeye waits for his wife to open the door. Her hair is wet from her shower and Hawkeye smirks.
"What?" She asks towel drying her hair a little more.
"You're cute," He states as he enters Margaret's tent. Rolling her eyes, Margaret asks her husband what he wants. Shrugging, Hawkeye answers, "I'm bored. Thought you could figure out how to send me home."
"Oh no, Buster. I'm going home first," She tells him. With a sigh, Hawkeye states, "But you signed up, I was sent here against my will!"
Having no answer for this, Margaret turns from him to grab her brush. Sitting on the bed, Hawkeye watches his wife brush her hair before asking, "Do you still want kids?"
Stopping for just a moment, Margaret turns to look at her husband before asking, "Do you?"
Shoulders sagging, Margaret answers, "At this point? I'm not sure. I feel bad not being able to give you what you want, or what I want."
The couple is quiet a moment until Margaret asks softly, "Do you think something is wrong with me?"
Shaking his head, Hawkeye answers, "I think under different circumstances it wouldn't be this hard. We're under too much stress here. I mean any minute choppers could fly in or shelling could go off. It could be me, too."
With a heavy sigh, Margaret remarks, "I wish we could go to Tokyo without raising suspicion. We could each get exams."
"That's a good way to get out of the Army!" Hawkeye teases as Margaret seriously replies, "That's a good way to get stationed somewhere else or worse."
Hawkeye watches as his wife turns back to her mirror and brushes her hair. Just as she gets to counting to sixty, Margaret swears as the PA announces wounded. With a heavy sigh, the couple leave her tent and head to the ambulance.
Thankfully there are only a few casualties with more superficial wounds such as broken bones and only one surgery. Checking on the patients later in the afternoon, Hawkeye is happy to find his wife on Post Op duty with him. Telling one patient he can go home, Hawkeye is iterrupted by Colonel Potter who tells the wounded and medical personnel that a chicken farm is liberated.
"'Maybe those chickens enjoyed the communist way of life'," Hawkeye remarks as his wife tells him to be quiet. Defending the surgeon, Colonel Potter remarks, "'It's okay, Margaret. Let him rant. He'll just end up with egg on his face instead of in his mouth like the rest of us.'"
As Hawkeye makes another remark about Korean chickens only laying powdered eggs, Margaret once again tells her husband to be quiet, fully aggravated by her husband's continual quips for the last hour while they work. Colonel Potter takes the remarks in stride explaining that the entire camp will be getting a Sunday brunch with fresh eggs. The whole camp is talking about the next day's meal excitedly within the hour. That night, Hawkeye and B.J. end up inviting a soldier named Nick Gillis back to their tent who seems like he needs a drink. When they get the soldier to open up, Gillis informs them through tears that his wife has a baby. Empathizing with the man, B.J. remarks how hard it can be to be away from family. Distraught, Gillis reminds them that he has been in Korea over a year explaining, "'The baby was born three weeks ago.'"
"'That's rough'," Hawkeye states never more thankful his wife is in the same camp as him. As the surgeons listen to the soldier go on about his wife, B.J. gingerly asks if Gillis' unit knows where he is. Agitated, the soldier asks, "'I thought this was just supposed to be a friendly drink?'"
"'No. Just between us'," Hawkeye reassures. Wary, Gillis remarks, "'Yeah, but you guys are officers.'"
"'Doctors, not soldiers'," B.J. clarifies. Trusting the men after a moment, Gillis explains he has been AWOL for about twenty four hours. Concerned for the man, Hawkeye asks if Gillis has talked to anyone about his problems. Explaining that he almost talks with his unit chaplain, Gillis states that he decided to try to go home instead. Gently, Hawkeye asks if Gillis wants to speak to their chaplain. Agreeing, Gillis figures the meeting can wait as he rolls on his stomach and hugs the pillow on the cot he occupies. Offering to introduce him that night, Hawkeye can tell the man is in no mood to talk. Leaving the man in their tent, Hawkeye and B.J. decide to talk to Father Mulcahey. Explaining the situation to the priest, Hawkeye and B.J. nod as Father Mulchaey agrees to see Gillis after service the next morning. Agreeing, the men thank the priest before heading to bed. Finding all the men who slept in the tent last night still accounted for the next morning, Hawkeye goes to take a shower and halfway through washing his hair remembers the brunch they get that day. Quickly finishing his shower, Hawkeye heads off to remind B.J. who tells him, "'I know. I know. Brunch means later. Today is going to be my Sunday back home. I get to sleep late, lie around for an hour or so then have a delicious real egg meal. Then, take a nap.'"
Right as he finishes his schedule, B.J. immediately puts his head back on his pillow. Seeing Gillis wake up after he talks to B.J., Hawkeye informs him of Father Mulchahey's willingness to talk to the man. Thanking him, Gillis tells the men he wants to go to the service and to Hawkeye's dismay is dragged into going as well. Both B.J. and Hawkeye reluctantly follow Gillis to the Mess Tent where Father Mulcahey has his services and just as the announcements end, two M.P.s show up to collect Gillis and take him back to his unit. Aggravated, Gillis declares Sanctuary to keep from leaving since the Mess Tent is currently doubling as a chapel. Excusing the bewildered soldiers and service men who do not need to be in the tent, Father Mulcahey, Colonel Potter, B.J., and Hawkeye listen to the M.P. who wants to take GIllis back. Making a call to J.A.G., Colonel Potter tells B.J. and Hawkeye to leave the Mess Tent as well. As the men walk away, they can hear people's excitement over brunch and are at a loss when Klinger exclaims, "Can you guys believe we get real eggs in half an hour!"
Glancing at each other, B.J. answers, "Yeah, hard to believe."
It takes all of half an hour for a revolt to start by the hungry people who show up for an egg brunch. On the spot, Hawkeye announces a picnic to appease the crowd and everyone confused, yet eager for food, grab their Mess Kits and stand in line to be served eggs by B.J. and Hawkeye. The picnic is in full swing when Gillis grabs a gun. Ducking and covering, the camp watches in astonishment as Father Mulcahey talks Gillis out of doing anything to him or anyone else that day. Instead, they make a deal with J.A.G. to sent Gillis to a hospital to have a meeting with Sidney Freeman.
Later that day, Hawkeye finds Margaret calling out his name. Smiling at her, he asks, "Why yes, Major? How can I help you?"
"I wanted to know what you thought about today?"
"It's been very exciting," He answers falling into step beside his wife adding, "It's also caused me to think about a few things."
"Oh?"
By now the couple is out of earshot of the majority of the camp having walked closer to the hill leading to the chopper pad. After a long pause, Hawkeye announces, "I think that maybe we should hold off on having a kid."
Surprised by this announcement, Margaret stops walking before finally asking why. Nervous about telling her his thoughts, Hawkeye is quiet a moment before finally answering, "I feel like I'd turn into to Gillis. Go AWOL just to see my wife and kid. I'm not that strong, Margaret."
Face falling, Margaret reassures him, "You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."
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