Goodbye, Farewell and Amen

"Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" is a television movie that served as the 251st and final episode of the M*A*S*H television series. Closing out the series' eleventh season, the 2½-hour episode first aired on Monday, February 28, 1983. Written by a large number of collaborators (including series star Alan Alda), and directed by Alda, "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen," as of 2008, is still the single most watched episode of a television series in American history.

The episode's plot chronicles the waning days of the Korean War at the 4077th MASH and features several storylines intended to show the war's effects on the individual personnel of the unit, and to bring closure to the series. After the final cease-fire of the war goes into effect, the members of the 4077th threw a closing party before going about the process of dismantling the camp for the final time. After saying their tear-filled goodbyes, the main characters go their separate ways, leading up to the iconic final scene of the series.

Between 109 and 125 million Americans (77% of all television viewership that night) watched "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen", more than both the year's Super Bowl and the famed Roots miniseries. The episode remains one of the highest rated and respected of the series. While the M*A*S*H series ended with this episode, three of the series' main characters (Sherman Potter (played by Harry Morgan), Maxwell Klinger, and Father Mulcahy) would later meet again in 1983 – 1985 spin-off series AfterMASH.

1 Detailed story
2 "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" on Home Video
3 "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" on DVD
4 Cultural reaction and impact
- 4.1 Pre-airing buildup
- 4.2 Post show reaction
5 Other
6 Footnotes

[edit] Detailed story

The finale starts during the waning days of the war at an unfamiliar hospital, in Ward D; it is revealed as a mental hospital. Captain Hawkeye Pierce (played by Alda) is inside being treated by Dr. Sidney Freedman (played by longtime recurring guest star Allan Arbus). As time progresses, Freedman is able to force him to recall the events that led up to his breakdown.^[1]

In the first memory that Hawkeye recalls, he is on an ill-fated bus ride back to the 4077th after a day of partying at the beaches of Incheon during the 4th of July holiday, and is drunk and jovial on the bus, and shouting for a bottle of whiskey – to be passed to the back of the bus for someone who "can't wait." However, as time progresses in his treatment, he is able to recall memories which he repressed; in his next recollection of the story, the person who "can't wait" is revealed to be a wounded soldier brought onto the bus, as a frustrated Hawkeye, unable to believe that the atmosphere on the bus is so jovial in light of this soldier's injury, calls frantically for a bottle of plasma.

The bus then picks up a group of Korean refugees, followed later by more wounded soldiers who warn of an enemy patrol coming in their direction; the bus is taken off the road and the soldiers tell everyone to stay quiet so the patrol doesn't hear them and kill them. Hawkeye recalls a woman holding a chicken that wouldn't stay quiet and thus put everyone in danger. In his final recollection Hawkeye remembers that he went to tell the woman to "keep (her) damn chicken quiet," which the woman did by smothering it to death. After recalling what happened to the chicken, Hawkeye recalls to his horror that it wasn't actually a chicken but the woman's baby that was smothered, and he breaks down in tears as a result of his repressed memory returning to the surface. Soon after this revelation Sidney decides it's time for Hawkeye to leave, but Sidney returns him to the 4077th. Hawkeye is not sure he's ready to go back, but Sidney is confident, saying he will drop by to check up on him. Also, a Korean refugee girl from the previous episode, Soon-Lee, is still on the base, continuing her search for her parents.

Meanwhile, a tank is driven by a wounded soldier into the 4077th and crushes the latrine. Charles Emerson Winchester, going to use the "ravine latrine," "captures" a rag-tag bunch of Chinese soldiers who happened to be musicians -- the equivalent of a unit band, they play traditional music for the other POWs. Charles teaches them to play Mozart's "Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, K. 581". Colonel Potter gets orders not to move the tank.

Charles is also bemoaning the fact that a competitor for the position of Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Mercy Hospital back in Boston has been pulling strings in an attempt to get the job. Margaret tries to help him get the job, and succeeds in doing so, but when Winchester finds out what she has done, he is none too pleased.

The presence of the tank causes the North Koreans to begin mortaring the unit. During the initial mortaring, Father Mulcahy goes out to try to save a group of prisoners of war who have been placed in a makeshift pen in the compound. In the process Mulcahy is knocked out by a very close explosion, and when he comes to, finds that he cannot hear what anyone is saying. Upon learning from B.J. that he's suffering from a case of tinnitus, Mulcahy makes him promise not to tell anyone about his hearing problem, because it could get him sent home where he wouldn't be able to continue helping the local orphans.

B.J. Hunnicutt, who has received his discharge papers, leaves for home, before Hawkeye returns to the camp to find a fresh batch of wounded waiting for him, and is excited to see his daughter's second birthday; however, as Hunnicutt leaves, Klinger shows Colonel Potter a different DOD letter, rescinding Hunnicutt's discharge papers; however, Potter could not hear what Klinger was saying, due to the noise of the helicopter, and tells Klinger to instead put the document on his desk so he can read it later in the day. Hawkeye is dismayed (or perhaps an undertoned furious) that B.J. left the same way Trapper did, without saying goodbye or even leaving a note. After a surgical round, with the mortaring of the camp continuing, Hawkeye takes the initiative and drives the tank out of the camp, through the newly built latrine and into the garbage dump. Despite the fact that Hawkeye's actions put the 4077th out of harms way and gave the group relieve, this impulsive move forces Colonel Potter to arrange for Hawkeye another session with Dr. Freedman. Meanwhile, Klinger also worries for Soon-Lee and goes looking for her after he figures out she temporarily left the base to continue searching for her parents, and comes to realize that he has fallen in love with Soon-Lee as well, and proposes marriage to her, which she accepts, but doesn't want to go back with him to America until she finds her parents.

Soon after, wildfires started by North Korean incendiary bombs in the surrounding hills forces the 4077th to bug out. (An actual wildfire destroyed the outdoor set and had to be written into the script.) Almost as soon as the new camp has been set up, B.J. returns, his journey home stopped after word reaches him in Guam that his discharge has been rescinded, as his replacement could not reach camp due to heavy fighting, and Potter requested that the Army find any staff who they could get their hands on. Due to the fact that Hunnicutt missed his daughter's birthday, the 4077 arrange it so a party is held for a two year orphan, and Hunnicutt serves as the guest of honor at the party as well.

Winchester eventually has to say goodbye to his Chinese music students, due to a POW trade with the Koreans. Meanwhile, the longtime PA system announcer of the 4077th announces that the truce has been signed at Panmunjon and will go into effect at 10:00pm that evening, and that the war is over; the camp's staff cheer loudly and celebrate in joy afterwards. However, shortly thereafter, one of the musicians is brought back to the camp, barely clinging to life, and Charles is stunned to learn that he is the only one of the students still alive. As a result, classical music, his number one solace during the war, becomes unpalatable to him. He goes inside his tent and starts up his record player- playing the same Mozart piece he had been teaching the musicians, but only after a few seconds he takes the record off and smashes it to pieces in frustration. While in surgery, the hospital staff hears journalist Robert Pierpoint over the PA as the last shots of the war are fired.

A final party is given in the mess tent to celebrate (presumably that evening or the evening before the hospital is decommissioned). Each of the main characters – and many minor characters, including ones barely seen during the run of the show – tells what he or she will be doing after the war; among the characters, Colonel Potter says he's looking forward to returning home to wife Mildred in Missouri and being a semi-retired country doctor; Margaret says she's looking forward to working in a bigger hospital; Mulcahy decides he will work as a minister who assists the deaf; and Charles decides he will accept the job in Boston as well. The biggest surprise, however, comes from Klinger whom, after countless attempts throughout the series to seek a Section 8 discharge, decides to stay in Korea to be with his new wife Soon Lee, and help her to find her missing family — even though he, like most of the soldiers, has finally received his release papers.

The day of departure begins with Father Mulcahy officiating the wedding of Klinger and Soon Lee, with Colonel Potter serving as best man. The newlyweds are the first ones to leave. As they pull out in an ox cart (decorated with a "JUST MARRIED" sign and strings of Klinger's old high heel shoes), Soon Lee throws her bouquet, which is caught by Margaret. As the tearing down of the camp begins, some personnel are sent by bus to the 8063rd MASH, a temporary stop, before being sent home. The landmark wooden arrow mileage signs of respective hometowns are taken one by one (excepting the ones pointing to Tokyo and Seoul). The officers then say goodbye, and what remains of the camp is torn down by the few remaining soldiers. Each officer departs one by one: Father Mulcahy first on his way to the 8063rd; then Margaret, also heading to join others at the 8063rd (after saying goodbye to Charles- who reconciles with Margaret and lets her keep one of his books she borrowed-, B.J. and Col. Potter - and sharing a long, passionate farewell kiss with Hawkeye); Charles then leaves in a garbage truck with Sgt. Rizzo after bidding farewell to his Swampmates and the Colonel; and Colonel Potter takes one final ride on Sophie before donating her to a local orphanage. Hawkeye and B.J. simultaneously give Potter a farewell salute before he rides away.

Image:MASH Goodbye.jpg

Promotional photograph of the iconic final scene of the episode.

The final scene involves just B.J. and Hawkeye. Earlier, B.J. was unable to say goodbye and Hawkeye mocked him for this failure. Hawkeye laments that they will be on opposite sides of the country after they go home and concludes that they will probably never see each other again, though Hunnicutt promises they will. They tearfully embrace for the last time, then Hawkeye boards a helicopter and prepares to lift off. B.J. rides off on a motorcycle (with the San Francisco mileage arrow) and, as the helicopter ascends, Hawkeye sees a final message from his long-time friend spelled out with stones on the sandy soil: "GOODBYE." The message, of course, serves a dual purpose: it was also a message from the creators of the series to its fans, saying "goodbye" after 11 years. As such, it is the last image shown of the 4077th on the screen before the final credits, before a close-up shot of Hawkeye followed by a final shot of his helicopter flying into the distance.

The credits run longer, with an extended version of the show theme played instead of the usual short closing theme that had been used for the previous two seasons' worth of episodes.

[edit] "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" on Home Video

Both the "Martinis and Medicine Collection" complete series set and the Season 11 DVD set of MASH were both released on November 7 of 2006. For the Season 11 DVD set release, the final 2½-hour episode was released on the third disc of the set as it was originally aired. Eventually 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment re-released "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" episode as a stand-alone Three-DVD set on May 15th of 2007. This DVD set also includes the two "special features" DVDs that were originally included in the complete series "Martinis and Medicine Collection" DVD set.^[2].

The "GFA" DVD set was a compromise between the loyal fans (who bought the entire series on DVD season by season from 2002 to 2006) and 20th century Fox Home Entertainment as a way of getting the "Special Features" discs that were available in the then-exclusive "Martinis and Medicine Collection". Before "GFA" was re-released on DVD, the only way that fans could get the "Special Features" discs was to purchase the complete series set (which angered loyal fans). Even before the Season 11 and "Martinis and Medicine Collection" sets were released, information was leaked on the internet on a possible compromise with loyal fans on obtaining the "Special Features" Discs.^[3]

While the entire series is available on Region 1, Region 2, and Region 4 DVDs, the "GFA" set is currently available only on Region 1 DVD. No word if it will be re-released on Region 2 or Region 4 DVDs.

Prior of being released on DVD, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" became the first TV program to be released on home video by the 'CBS/Fox Video' label (VHS, Laserdisc, and the RCA Selectavision Video Disc) and was released to rental outlets.

Also, as a part of their TV Home Video Club, Columbia House did release selected episodes of M*A*S*H on VHS in the 1990's. Of the episodes released to club members, "GFA" was one of many episodes released by Columbia House.^[4]

Currently, there is no report of M*A*S*H being released on Blu-Ray Disc or HD-DVD (types of High-Definition format DVD).

[edit] "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" on DVD

For the most part, the third disc of the M*A*S*H: Season 11 DVD set and the first disc of the M*A*S*H: "GFA" set are the same disc. The only difference is the disc art. The artwork of the third disc of the M*A*S*H: Season 11 DVD has a solid khaki background with a 'grayscale' image of Sgt. Klinger on the left. The artwork of the first disc of the M*A*S*H: "GFA" set has a solid lime-green background with a 'grayscale' image of a martini glass with an olive in the glass also located on the left of the disc.

PLEASE NOTE: The artwork for "GFA" disc one is slightly redone from its original "Martinis and Medicine Collection" design (disc one). The only difference between the two is the episode title on the disc. "Martinis and Medicine Collection"'s disc one of the 'Special Features' artwork of the has no mention of any season or episode title). Also some "GFA" sets re-used the Season 11 Disc 3 disc art.

[edit] Cultural reaction and impact

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[edit] Pre-airing buildup

The anticipation and buildup to the airing of "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" was almost unprecedented, especially for a regular television series (in contrast to an awards show or special event). Interest from advertisers prompted CBS, the network that aired M*A*S*H, to sell 30-second commercial blocks for $450,000 (about $906,000 in 2006) each – a higher cost than even for the Super Bowl of that year.^[5]

On the night this episode aired, large areas of California (particularly the San Francisco Bay Area) were affected by power outages resulting from unusually strong winter weather. This prevented many viewers from watching the series finale. Three weeks later, on March 21, KPIX, the CBS affiliate in San Francisco, re-aired the episode.

[edit] Post show reaction

M*A*S*H was one of the most successful shows in TV history. So as not to completely lose the franchise, CBS quickly created the new series AfterMASH, following the adventures of Colonel Potter, Max Klinger and Father Mulcahy in a Stateside hospital after the war. Initially popular, script problems and constant character changes led to a steep decline in viewers, and the show lasted a mere two seasons.

M*A*S*H finished up its 11-season run on CBS with a repeat of "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" on September 19, 1983. It was repeated again in summer 1984.

[edit] Other

This is the only episode of the series to have its title appear onscreen.
The episode's title is a paraphrase of a line in Cole Porter's song "Just One Of Those Things". Many other M*A*S*H episodes had also borrowed their titles from classic songs and films.
Klinger reveals he has an Uncle Jameel. Jamie Farr's birth name is Jameel Joseph Farah.
It was Jamie Farr's idea to have Klinger voluntarily choose to stay in Korea at the end of the episode.
The shots of the 4077th tents being packed up were taken from the season 6 episode "Bug Out." A small vignette with Col. Potter giving orders to the unit was added in.
In the finale's closing moments, listen closely for references to the episodes "Bottoms Up" (March 2, 1981) and "The Joker is Wild" (November 15, 1982).
Alda reportedly had a different idea for what to do for the finale: he wanted it to be a typical half-hour episode, at the end of which the fourth wall would be broken when a director would be heard saying "cut!" during a surgery scene, and crewmen would walk on the set and do what they normally did. Alda would then say to the camera "Well, for the last 12 years we tried to show you what war was like, but it's not as much fun." Alda is the only series regular to be in all 251 installments of M*A*S*H.
Featured a long kiss shared between Alan Alda and Loretta Swit. Alda and Swit are the only actors to appear in both the first episode of M*A*S*H and this, the last episode. The character of Father Mulcahy also appears in both, but was played by a different actor in the pilot episode.
B.J., on his initial trip back to the US, is confronted by the MPs, who ask if he is "Hunnicutt the doctor?" To which he replies, "No, I am Hunnicutt the chaplain." In the 1968 Richard Hooker novel M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, which is the basis for the M*A*S*H franchise, the doctors impersonate chaplains to get out of working short-arm inspection while en route back to the US.
The final line of the episode (and thus of the series) is Hawkeye (Alda) calling out, "What?" over the whir of the chopper blades. This is in response to B.J. Hunnicutt's shouted words of farewell to his friend: "I'll see you back in the states... I promise. But just in case I don't, I left you a note." As B.J. disappears on his motorcycle, Hawkeye gives the chopper pilot the signal to take off. As the helicopter rises into the air, Hawkeye sees that B.J. has arranged the camp's white stones -- which previously spelled out "MASH" -- to read, "GOODBYE".

[edit] Footnotes

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M*A*S*H Portal

^ Classic Episode - Goodbye, Farewell and Amen. MASH4077.co.uk. (Accessed November 12, 2006)
^ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6323
^ http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=24932
^ http://www.finest-kind.net/misc/MASHcolumbialist.txt
^ Wittebols, James H. Watching M*A*S*H, Watching America: A Social History of the 1972-1983 Television Series. 1998. 242 pp. 138-142.

Preceded by "As Time Goes By"	*MASH episodes**	Succeeded by AfterMASH

v • d • e MASH*
Film:	MASH · Differences between book, film and TV versions of MAS*H · "Suicide Is Painless"
TV series:	MASH* (episodes: Season 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11; finale; guest stars) · Trapper John, M.D. · AfterMASH · WALTER*
Characters:	Hawkeye Pierce · Trapper John McIntyre · Duke Forrest · B.J. Hunnicutt · Henry Blake · Sherman T. Potter · Frank Burns · Margaret Houlihan · Charles Winchester · Radar O'Reilly · Father Mulcahy · Maxwell Klinger · Nurse Kellye · Igor Straminsky · Luther Rizzo · Sidney Freedman · Col. Flagg · Spearchucker Jones · Ugly John · Walter Koskiusko Waldowski · Ho-Jon · Nurse Bigelow · Lieutenant Dish · Donald Penobscot · Zelmo Zale · Staff Sgt. Vollmer
Books:	MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors · MASH Goes to Maine*

Retrieved from "http://india.smashits.com/wikipedia/Goodbye%2C_Farewell_and_Amen"

Categories: Articles to be expanded since January 2007 | All articles to be expanded | M*A*S*H episodes | American television films | Television series finales

Goodbye, Farewell and Amen

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Contents

[edit] Detailed story

[edit] "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" on Home Video

[edit] "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" on DVD

[edit] Cultural reaction and impact

[edit] Pre-airing buildup

[edit] Post show reaction

[edit] Other

[edit] Footnotes

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