While trying to decide his future plans, Sgt. James makes a decision that ends up hurting Elizabeth. When he hears of the consequences, he makes a better choice.
The Major and Polly disagree about the dress code at Elizabeth's school. The Major says change the school board, and Polly says change the rules and she helps Elizabeth protest.
Hard feelings arise after Polly asks the Major to coach Robin's basketball team. Lt. Holowachuk buys an expensive camera from a beautiful woman and the Major suspects she is a con artist.
The Major is put on alert for a top-secret mission. (The crisis in the fictional country of "Costa Negra" closely mirrors the U.S. Invasion of Panama, Operation Just Cause, which had successfully concluded in January 1990 only three months before this two-part episode aired.)
The Major's family welcomes him back, but he thinks they resent his job. (The battle in which Maj. MacGillis and Lt. Holowachuk participate in "Costa Negra" closely mirrors Operation Just Cause in Panama, which had successfully concluded in January 1990 only three months before this two-part episode aired.)
2nd Lt. Howlachuk gets promoted. To everyone's surprise, he says he does not want booze at his wetting-down. The Major wonders why Howlachuk is being uptight about a long drinking tradition, but when Howlachuk reveals he baled a cat while driving the tractor drunk, the Major agrees to a good solution.
The major needs a guest of honor for a base celebration of the Corps' 215th anniversary, and Vice President Dan Quayle (appearing as himself) responds to the invitation. However, November 10th is also Elizabeth's 16th birthday, and she feels neglected.
Mac tries to encourage Casey's belief in Santa, which is no small task as she asked for a hard-to-find toy. By chance the Major obtains it, but it gets mistaken as a donation to Toys for Tots. Casey's faith in Santa comes through in a way not even Polly or the Major can understand.
The Major wants Gunny to express her anger after he accidentally destroys her favorite possession, a ceramic eagle once owned by the Corps' most decorated Marine.
When Polly backs out of giving Elizabeth driving lessons, the Major steps in. Right after getting her license, Elizabeth hits the General's antique MG.
The Major is embarrassed by Polly's valentine tribute to him in the base newspaper when it reveals his romantic side in the article; Elizabeth finally agrees to a date with Jesse.
When cleaning the garage a Zorro watch is found, Mac tells the girls that he was a little boy he wanted that watch but could not afford it, so he stole it. The Major asks Polly what could be done to atone for it and show the girls that shoplifting is wrong.
The officers organize a Marine talent show; the general, whom no one thinks has talent, wants to perform and has to sing at the last minute. Robin runs for president of her student council.
All the Major dreams of is performing with the Silent Drill Platoon (appearing as themselves), but he is so out of practice his audition may be a nightmare for all involved.
The Major is charged with writing a speech welcoming troops home from Saudi Arabia. He also decides he wants to adopt Polly's kids, but Elizabeth is reluctant.
When a sailor whom Robin has been writing to as part of a military pen pal program comes seeking a serious relationship, Polly and the Major try to get to the bottom of it. Apparently, Robin has been lovesick and writing romantic letters to the Navy man, whilst including a picture of Polly as herself.
A perky but secretly self-serving sergeant (Lorna Patterson) is superb as the new secretarial assistant. So good, in fact, that she upstages Gunny who is not pleased.
When Elizabeth is hired as a waitress, Polly and the Major object to her provocative uniform (short, fluffy black dress, white apron and pig ears) which leads Elizabeth to organize a revolt at work.
Gunny, Holowachuk, and the Major are assigned to a court-martial panel but have different opinions about the case. Meanwhile, General Craig is having difficulty with his temporary secretary.
The effects of too much Halloween have gotten to Casey where she has nightmares that her sisters have zombified, then sees Lt. Howlachuck as Frankenstein's monster, Gunny as the Wicked Witch of the West and General Craig as the Phantom of the Opera. She is told it is not real by Mac, only to have him become a werewolf. Casey then wakes up with her family by her bed, realizing she only hallucinated from a bad fever.
In order to sharpen their service records, General Craig and the Major go to night school, where they are enrolled in a business course. As part of a project, the Major must "invent" something then pitch it, but his invention is stolen by the General. When Casey thinks of an idea for her troll doll, the Major pitches that, giving credit to Casey.
88
14
"Piano Lesson"
Michael Lembeck
Rick Hawkins
January 29, 1993 (1993-01-29)
68613
N/A
The Major is embarrassed about taking piano lessons alongside little kids.
After being denied a promotion, the Major considers leaving the Marines, much to the chagrin of his family. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Craig is promoted to Major General. He wears the two star rank the remainder of the series.
The Major and a visiting Russian officer (Yakoff Smirnoff) compete. Complications arise when his son (who is visiting with him) and Elizabeth develop a mutual attraction to each other.
Gunny's apartment is robbed. She seems matter-of-fact about it, but when she overreacts to someone not returning her pen, the Major sits her down to explain it is understandable to be upset about unfortunate events.
Robin's new boyfriend is the son of another Marine officer. However, when the boy gets cut and Mac offers to dress the gash, he sees strange marks which lend evidence of abuse. The Major sees the boy's mother acts like a Stepford wife, so he asks Polly's help in getting her to open up. In a subplot, Lt. Holowachuk tries to fill his basketball team but finds complications when General Craig wants to play — and no one wants to guard him because he is the general.
NOTE: Gerald McRaney and Nicole Dubuc, out-of-character, tell families about the rough nature of the episode in getting younger viewers to understand.
General Craig and Lt. Holowachuck are transferred to the White House. The new general is a stern disciplinarian whose aide behaves sycophantically. The new base commander has no tolerance for the Major's easygoing style of leadership, and creates extra work for Gunny with such minute details as ordering she dispose of colored thumbtacks. The Major and Gunny realize it was a good environment under General Craig and would give anything to work with him again.
NOTE: This was the last episode shot, but debuted out of order as the penultimate. As such, it is considered the series finale.
Casey has her 10th birthday and the Major gives her a Daisy rifle that he once owned as a little boy. This angers Polly, who does not want him teaching their daughters about shooting, whereas the Major protests he is passing on something he enjoyed.
