M*A*S*H (TV Series)
Father's Day (1980)
Harry Morgan: Col. Sherman T. Potter
Photos
Quotes
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Col. Sherman T. Potter : You know, I never got the chance to tell you how much Margaret means to us. We couldn't run this place without her.
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : Well, that gal is the best thing that ever happened to me!
Col. Sherman T. Potter : Is that so? Well, you sure have a funny way of showing it.
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : I beg your pardon?
Col. Sherman T. Potter : Margaret's busted her britches trying to please you, but you don't seem to give a tinker's damn!
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : Forgive me, Colonel, but what business is that of yours?
Col. Sherman T. Potter : It is my business because I care about her. That gal seems to think you have no use for her.
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : Well, I flew halfway around the world to see her, didn't I? That should say it all.
Col. Sherman T. Potter : It doesn't say enough when all you can do is find fault.
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : What do you mean by that?
Col. Sherman T. Potter : Well, for openers, walking out on her in the middle of O.R. didn't exactly boost her morale.
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : [looking away from Potter] That had nothing to do with Margaret!
Col. Sherman T. Potter : Really? Then what did it have to do with?
[Alvin does not respond]
Col. Sherman T. Potter : Was it the doctors' Tom Foolery?
[Alvin still does not respond]
Col. Sherman T. Potter : Was it the blood?
[Alvin looks up]
Col. Sherman T. Potter : [walks a step away and turns around again to face Alvin] Let me tell you something, Alvin, I've seen tougher birds than you who couldn't take it!
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : It shouldn't be happening to me.
Col. Sherman T. Potter : You mean you'd sooner let her think she was a failure than admit you were about to lose your lunch? You'd rather crush her feelings than let on you're human like the rest of us?
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : Colonel...
Col. Sherman T. Potter : You're so busy being 'Howitzer Al' Houlihan you can't even let your own daughter know you love her?
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : Colonel, you raise your family and I'll raise mine.
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The M.P. : [taking a bite] I was right. This is steak.
[pausing to chew]
The M.P. : Matter of fact, this is the best steak I ever tasted.
Capt. Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce : Finish it up.
The M.P. : Hey, wait, uh, what am I gonna say to General Beswick?
Col. Sherman T. Potter : Well, after you've digested the evidence, you can honestly tell the general he's got absolutely no beef here.
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Col. Sherman T. Potter : It's funny how much faster the time goes when you begin to slow up. When I ship out of here, my home base is gonna be just plain home. I'm gonna convert the back room into an office and hang up a shingle that says "Old Doc Potter" on one side, and "Gone Fishin'" on the other.
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'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : Do you men always dress this casual?
Capt. Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce : Well, there's been no formal declaration of war.
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : Makes no difference. You're still soldiers.
Col. Sherman T. Potter : How 'bout we all have a drink? It's on me.
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : You fellas don't have a hell of a lot of respect for the army, do you?
Capt. B.J. Hunnicut : Oh, let's not talk shop. I'll have a beer, Colonel. How about you, Hawk?
'Howitzer' Al Houlihan : You're damn lucky to be wearing your country's uniform. How dare you clowns make a mockery of it.
Capt. Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce : Well, why shouldn't we be clowns? We're living in a three-ring circus.
Col. Sherman T. Potter : Uh, that's one beer, and what are you having, Pierce?
Capt. Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce : I think I've had just about enough.
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Col. Sherman T. Potter : Oh, by the by, Pierce, on the way over, I nearly took a header on that crate addressed to you. Bigger than my first house. What's in it?
Capt. Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce : Uh, educational materials.
Maj. Charles Winchester : Educational material? For Pierce? It's like buying gloves for the Venus de Milo.
Capt. Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce : Bite your tongue, Charles. It's liable to be all you get.
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Col. Sherman T. Potter : [to Col. Houlihan] Look, I get the feeling you're not the kind of man who would have acted the way you did the other night unless something's really eating you. Nowadays, you've got a lot of empty spaces in your life. You don't have your men, and you don't have your woman. But you do have your daughter. I'd say right now you're running away from the one person you should be getting close to.