In this scene from Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," a humorous misunderstanding unfolds between a colonel and a corporal. The colonel, frustrated with the corporal, insists he wants to hear someone else's last line. The corporal, however, misinterprets the request and keeps reading back the same line. This creates a cycle of confusion and tension, highlighting the absurdity of their communication.

The colonel's anger escalates as he realizes that the corporal is not following his orders correctly. This exchange emphasizes the themes of miscommunication and the chaotic nature of military bureaucracy present throughout the novel, illustrating how even simple requests can turn into frustrating situations in the absurd world they inhabit.