'M*A*S*H' - 'Change Day' Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scrip

The term 'scrip' is short for 'subscription receipt', and refers to provisional certificates of money issued by banks, companies or other organizations (for example, the U.S. army) that may be used to exchange for formal, government issued currency. The point of using scrip is to fight off counterfeiters and black marketeers, as the scrip can be more frequently changed.

Answer: Blue to red

My apologies for the very detailed question, but I felt it necessary to see if you were paying attention. After all, beginning the following day, the blue scrip will become worthless. Colonel Potter instructs Klinger to make sure that all roads in and out of the compound be guarded by military police so that black marketeers will be unable to have access to the camp with their arbitrage schemes (foreshadowing!)

Answer: 10-to-1

Charles, who is already very wealthy, nonetheless cannot resist the opportunity to make a profit. He suggests a scheme to his tailor and prospective partner Mr. Kim that all the locals be gathered so an exchange be made. Of course, Mr. Kim will benefit as well, but only to the meager tune of 2% of the profit.

Answer: It's the hunt!

Charles responds to Mr. Kim's query as follows: 'It's the hunt! It's the challenge of scenting the spoor of opportunity and tracking it down. Besides, we're just acting as business agents for your people. We're doing them a big favor.'

Charles essentially blackmails Mr. Kim into helping him with this scheme, offering the latter the choice of a check for his tailoring services that might take months to cash or cash tomorrow. Mr. Kim reluctantly chooses the latter.

Answer: West Point

Hawkeye's response when confronted with this information about Klinger goes as follows: 'One day our little brown-eyed girl is running around in a floppy hat and a beard, and the next day she's off to West Point.' BJ adds, 'That brilliant screwball finally did it! He's getting out of the service by joining the army!'

Klinger admits that his Uncle Gus helped him get an invitation to attend West Point, thanks to his connection with a certain local congressman.

Answer: Peter Riegert

As you 'M*A*S*H' fans are probably aware, Johnny Haymer portrayed Zale, G. W. Bailey was Luther Rizzo and Timothy Brown played Spearchucker. Corporal Igor Straminsky was portrayed by Jeff Maxwell on the show from 1974 until the final episode in 1983 with two exceptions, this episode ('Change Day') and the earlier sixth season episode 'War of Nerves'. Peter Riegert went on to play Boon in the 1978 film 'Animal House'. I'm not sure why Maxwell was not portraying his Igor character in either of these two episodes.

Answer: Mess tent

When Igor and Zale enter into fisticuffs, everyone in the mess tent runs out to bear witness, that is, almost everyone. While Hawkeye and friends view the brouhaha boiling outside the mess tent, someone steals the canvas bag in which Corporal Boone's army scrip has been held. Inside the bag was $400 dollars in blue scrip ready for exchange!

Answer: Math

The first question Klinger reads:

'Mary's mother sent her to the store to get nine large cans of beans. Mary could only carry two cans at a time. How many trips to the store did Mary have to take?'

Of course the simple answer is five. But Klinger is unable to decipher such a complex question of arithmatic. Klinger's responds to the question, 'What kind of family would only feed their children beans?'

Needless to say, Klingger (That's the way he spells his name on the exam before Potter corrects him!) fails the exam miserably.

Answer: A roadblock

BJ and Hawkeye caught wind of Charles' plan to cheat the locals and had their MP pal set up a roadblock, forcing the Major to walk back to the 4077th. Unfortunately for Charles, he does not make it before the deadline, 1600 hours. Hawkeye and BJ show up at just the right moment to exchange $400 of Charles' money (in order to pay back Boone's stolen cash), of course giving Charles only one dollar in exchange for every ten.

Answer: Yes

BJ and Hawkeye are able to scam Charles out of $400 in blue scrip, which they exchange for red. This scrip is then returned to Boone. While in the process of refunding Boone his money, Father Mulcahy runs in with good news, the canvas bag containing the Corporal's cash has been returned. Earlier in the episode, the good Father had made a fire and brimstone appeal to the dwellers of the camp that Boone's money be returned, and this turns out to have been effective. Hawkeye suggests that Father Mulcahy keep the other $400 for his orphans. All's well that ends well, with the exception of one unhappy Winchester.

Thank you for trying this quiz, I hope that you enjoyed it and will try my other 'M*A*S*H'-related stuff.