Ep 17. Tea and Empathy

The show M*A*S*H season 6 episode 17, titled "Tea and Empathy," follows the daily battles of the doctors, nurses and support staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War.

The episode begins with Captain Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce (played by Alan Alda) and Father Mulcahy (played by William Christopher) heading to the front lines to retrieve a wounded soldier and deliver the news of his friend's death to him. The soldier, Private Jenkins, is upset and difficult to console, but Hawkeye and Father Mulcahy do their best to offer him comfort and understanding.

Back at the hospital, Nurse Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (played by Loretta Swit) is dealing with her own emotional turmoil. She's received a letter from her estranged husband, Donald, who wants to come visit her at the hospital. Margaret is torn between her feelings for Donald and her growing attraction to Colonel Potter (played by Harry Morgan). She confides in Captain BJ Hunnicutt (played by Mike Farrell) about her dilemma, and he encourages her to follow her heart.

Meanwhile, Major Charles Emerson Winchester III (played by David Ogden Stiers) is having his own troubles. He's struggling to connect with his patients, and his colleagues find him standoffish and snobbish. But when he realizes that a wounded soldier's hobby is knitting, he becomes enthusiastic and offers to teach the soldier some new techniques. The interaction brings a smile to both men's faces, and Winchester learns a valuable lesson about empathy.

As the day goes on, the staff at the hospital faces more challenges and victories. Captain Pierce operates on a patient with a serious abdominal wound, and the entire team works together to keep the patient alive. Father Mulcahy shares his own experience of losing a friend in the war with Private Jenkins, giving the soldier some perspective. And Margaret finally decides to write a letter to Donald, telling him that she's moved on.

Overall, "Tea and Empathy" is a heartwarming and emotional episode that showcases the resilience and compassion of the M*A*S*H team. Through their struggles and triumphs, they remind us of the importance of empathy, kindness and understanding in even the most trying of circumstances.