MovieChat Forums > M*A*S*H (1972) Discussion > Bed Arrest

Bed Arrest

posted 8 years ago by dawnbaxter34
9 replies | jump to latest

In trying to reprimand one of her nurses, Margaret demands that Col. Blake confine her to bed arrest for one month. That is, the nurse must sit on the edge of her bed at attention when she's not on duty or having meals.

Was that a typical Army punishment? It definitely sounded pretty extreme, especially for one month.

I want her placed under bed arrest.

Bed what?

When she's not on duty and other than at meal times, she is to sit on the edge of her bed at attention for one month.

Oh, be reasonable, Major. You can't keep a nurse in bed for a month, although there are a few people who have tried it.

[–] crockett_john 8 years ago

That sounds like an unusual punishment to me. I don't think you'd discipline your officers like that.

---
I blame autocorrect.

You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas.

[–] wordsatplaytoday 8 years ago

I'd be more than willing to help keep her in bed for a month! 😁

Damn I'm good.

[–] ExplorerDS6789 8 years ago

I'd be more than willing to help keep her in bed for a month!

This.

The "bed arrest" line was just a lead-in to Henry's line. It was all just a setup for a joke.

[–] iamtherealbg 8 years ago

And to show what a hard-ass Houlihan was.

[–] davebuffalo (3494) 2 years ago

I agree, "Bed arrest" was a made-up term, to setup the joke, and a play on words from being committed to "bed rest", like when pregnant. (And sounds like Bed-Arrest could lead to Bed-Rest 8.5 months later!).

[–] crypticanomaly73 8 years ago

My first thought is how would you enforce that she is actually sitting on the edge of her bed at all times? Would you really have an infantry man or MP watch the nurse the whole time?

Although there were punishments where a soldier could be confined to their quarters.

Other than that I agree with the rest of the posters, it was the set up for a joke and to show Margaret as unreasonable and I would also have loved to keep the nurse in bed for a month!

Sometimes a movie or tv show plot is so stupid that only the stupid can understand it.

[–] McCartney42 8 years ago

Actually all they would have to do would be to leave all the flaps on the tent up so they could see her through the screen sitting up in bed?

[–] marktayloruk (2506) 2 years ago

He was one of them!

[–] marktayloruk (2506) 2 years ago

Was Henry speaking from experience?