Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episode 8: The Fifth Laboratory

Behind a stage curtain, Colonel Roy Mustang whispers into a telephone, convinced he has the afternoon free for flirting. He reassures the person on the line that Lieutenant Hawkeye is away, completely oblivious to his impending comeuppance. Just as he chuckles about his good fortune, Riza's hand bursts through the phone box window, grabbing him by the ear. The force of her arrival collapses the entire set, leaving a terrified Roy sprawled on the floor.

Van Hohenheim attempts a dramatic, somber farewell in a serene field, tossing an empty bottle over his shoulder as a final gesture. His poetic moment is immediately shattered by a chibi Edward Elric cardboard cutout. The sign appears from nowhere, admonishing Hohenheim for littering and interrupting his serious tone with an environmental message. This punctures the gravitas entirely, forcing the audience to laugh at the sudden shift.

Edward Elric furiously punches Greed, who possesses Ling Yao's body, demanding that Ling regain control. When physical force and appeals to loyalty fail, Ed resorts to a different tactic. He shouts a promise: 'All right, if you come back I'll buy you a full course meal!' Instantly, a stream of drool escapes Ling's mouth, confirming that hunger remains his most potent weakness. It is a quick, funny testament to Ling's core personality.

Alphonse Elric helps Dr. Knox clean, innocently asking about a photograph of a handsome young man. Dr. Knox proudly reveals it is a glamorous image of his younger self. Without hesitation or a change in expression, Alphonse rips the picture in half and tosses it into the trash. The doctor is left in utter despair, his past self cold-heartedly discarded by Alphonse's honest, almost brutal, assessment.

Roy Mustang delivers a grand, philosophical speech about national service and potential sacrifice to a quiet Riza Hawkeye. He speaks of dying in a ditch for the nation, a noble sentiment. However, Riza's internal visualization shows Roy literally face-down in a pile of garbage, flies buzzing around him. Despite this unglamorous mental image, she offers her unwavering loyalty, asking to serve by his side. Roy is so moved that his heart visibly thumps out of his chest, accepting with an over-the-top grin.

As the credits roll, the Hiromu Arakawa cow mascot, wearing spectacles, stands serenely on screen. Upbeat music plays, and the staff names scroll past in Japanese. The cow sways slightly, maintaining its unperturbed expression throughout the sequence. The episode concludes as the red stage curtains, seen at the beginning, draw shut over the mascot. It brings the collection of shorts to a neat, theatrical close.