Quantum Leap s03e08 Episode Script

Realising that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap Accelerator (and vanished.
) He awoke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own.
And driven by an unknown force to change history for the better.
His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear.
And so Dr Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home.
Quantum leaping through time, I found myself in some tight spots.
But this was definitely the tightest.
And now for the Sword of Doom! Doom? Ladies and gentlemen, The Great Spontini! Oh, boy.
(MILD APPLAUSE) (DRUM ROLL) Harry, the saw.
Oh.
The saw.
Harry! What are you doing? The head.
Turn me round.
Turn around and Turn the table around.
Turning the table.
Still turning the table.
Andstop.
Harry, the saw.
The saw.
Oh! (SCREAMS) Do you have to make sounds like that? Oh! Oh! (SCREAMS) Ow! OK? Put the dividers in.
She's OK, folks.
Here are the dividers.
Thank you.
Andthe first divider isin.
And now comes the second divide Pull my head.
And nowI will attempt to - Open the doors! - open the doors! The doors Yes.
Ha, ha, ha! And .
.
aha! And now I will Push me apart! .
.
push her apart.
And now I will put it back together.
There we go.
Her feet are moving! Wow! Closing the doors.
There we go.
Closing the doors.
Turning the table.
(MURMURING AMONGST AUDIENCE) Andthe, uh What do you call them? The dividers out.
(Go easy.
) Thanks.
That was The Great Spontini! What was that? I'm not sure.
It was Phoenix all over again.
You'd better not be getting that weird flu.
Here, hold these swords.
Well, you don't have a fever.
Come on.
Let's go.
Thank God we're in Oakland.
We'd never get away with that in Vegas.
How's your stomach? Uhfine.
I'm feeling a lot betternow.
OK, because we've really got to nail that Bill Bixby audition Thursday.
We're auditioning for The Incredible Hulk? Harry, I don't think a great actor like Bill Bixby - - and magician - is going to play a green comic book character.
Wait, The Magician - Bill Bixby's TV show.
Starring The Great Spontini and his Table of Death.
Table Table of Death? Worth$3,500 if we get on! And ten grand if we win for greatest illusion.
With that money in the kitty, we'll have the hottest magic shop on the west coast! This time, we'll have all the magic on our side! Come on.
Time for my quick change routine.
Just give me a minute, OK? OK.
Eek! Pah! (ITEMS RATTLE) Hmm.
Let me guess.
You're a kleptomaniac.
No, no, Al.
I'm a I'm a magician.
I'm sorry I missed your act.
ButI caught a better one next door.
Let me guess, women's dressing room? Take pity on me, Sam.
I haven't been myself lately.
Tina's been away for a couple of weeks visiting her mother.
AndI do have my needs, you know? God forbid you should have two weeks' downtime.
Yeah, well, I mean (KNOCK ON DOOR) Uhcome in.
It's Elaine from next door! And she's got the cutest little butterfly tattoo and it's right - It Oh, she seems to like you a lot, Sam.
I begged my agent for three months to get us booked at the same place.
A four-week run together.
It'll be heaven, baby! Mmm! Go for it! You're still thinking about her.
Who? What difference does it make?! Don't play dumb with me, Harry.
You just can't get her out of your head, can you? Well, these things, they take time.
Three years? That's long enough.
You hurt her feelings, Sam.
Now beg her forgiveness.
What? I said, "that's long enough".
I can't compete with Maggie's memory.
Say you're sorry andmake up to her.
I'm I'm sorryElaine.
You mean it? Because I could help you forget her.
If you'd just let me try.
There you go, kid.
Now you're back on the burner.
Harry? Mom? Al? Deny everything.
So Mommy Dearest comes back? You could have at least told me.
Well, I didn't really He's been waiting for you like a dog by the door, honey.
I guess I should have knocked a little louder, huh? Well, I, uh I This is Maggie.
Hi, uhMaggie.
Hi, baby.
You have got so big.
She ran out on Harry and the kid three years ago.
I've missed you so much.
I suppose that's for me? Oh.
Yes.
It is.
I don't know if it's quite right.
You missed me when I was this size.
A lot changes in three years.
I'll tell you what I'm going to do.
I'll take you shopping and you can go pick out a larger size, OK? Hi.
Steve Slater.
Nice to meet you, Harry.
Caught the end of your act.
Really enjoyed it.
Oh, well, thanks.
Yeah, you were really great with all that illusion stuff.
You're good.
Could never top your disappearing act.
Where are you going? I've got to feed the rabbits.
We knew this would be tough.
It'll take a little time.
Talk to him - I can't find out why she came back after three years.
Harry? I want a divorce.
Bingo! Divorce? Margaret and I are engaged.
We'd like to get the paperwork moving.
Steve's also my attorney.
Watch your wallet, Sam.
Here it comes.
Harry, I want to make this as easy as I possibly can.
Trust me.
I don't want it to get blown out of proportion.
Blown My guess is that Steve here is providing the plutonium.
Well Um Couldn't Couldn't we talk about this alone? I think we said it all three years ago.
Nothing has changed, Harry.
Well, you're here.
Andwe don't need a lawyer to talk.
We'll talk about it tomorrow in Judge Mulhern's chambers.
County Courthouse, two o'clock.
It's just a formality, Harry.
Come on.
I don't like that guy, Sam.
He reminds me of my second wife's divorce attorney.
Cost me every nickel I had.
And according to Ziggy, Harry spends his life savings on attorney's fees.
Yeah? I think I'm here to reunite this family.
What makes you think that? Well, you heard Elaine.
Spontini never stopped loving Maggie andand I think she still loves him.
I mean, you can see it in her eyes.
She left him and the kids, went to school, got a real estate licence, started a whole new life.
But she came back.
To get a divorce! I think she came back because she still loves him.
We are here to review the case of Harry Spontini and his estranged wife Margaret Spontini.
Mr Spontini, as I see no counsel present, I assume you've chosen to represent yourself in this matter? Uhyes, your Honour.
And I'm sure that Mrs Spontini and I .
.
can work out a solution without taking up your time if - Guard shark here.
- if her counsel would just allow us a few moments alone to talk.
Your Honour, my client and I are prepared to waive our rights to spousal support in this matter.
This is not about a divorce.
However, we do believe Harry Spontini to be an unfit parent and that Margaret Spontini should be given sole legal and physical custody of the minor, Jamie Spontini.
See? She's after Jamie.
This was supposed to be about a divorce, not a custody hearing.
You Honour, I'd like to show examples of unacceptable living conditions that Mr Spontini has subjected his 12-year-old daughter to over the last few years.
These photos demonstrate the need for temporary placement of the child with Mrs Spontini's custody as soon as possible.
Photos? Yeah, the shark hired a dick to follow you.
I warned you.
I don't want to hear it.
I'm afraid you'll have to, Mr Spontini.
May I see those, counsellor? Custody hearings are the worst.
I remember my third fourth third wife, Sharon and I, we fought for over eight months over Chester.
(You have a son?) Dog.
He was a good dog.
And she got him.
I tell you, in a family court, women have all the power.
Mr Spontini? How many residences have you had in the last, oh, five years? You live in a trailer.
We have one residence.
A one-bedroom mobile home that changes locations from week to week can't be considered a suitable residence.
My work forces me to live on the road and I feel that it's better for Jamie - my daughter - if she's with me and I don't leave her.
That's good, Sam.
Do you travel a lot or a little? Well Let's see.
30 weeks out of the year.
Lie a little.
I'm employed about 30 weeks out of the year.
Your daughter doesn't have her own room? She has a sleeping area.
But she's happy! But she's a very happy and well-adjusted young girl, Mr Slater.
Well, I'm sure you feel that way, Mr Spontini but do you think it's appropriate for a maturing young girl to share a common sleeping area? Well, uhno.
But we're trying to buy a business that will enable us to settle into the area.
A magic shop? Yes, that's correct.
Mrs Spontini, were you aware of this business purchase? Yes, I was.
How many years has this purchase been a consideration? Um Well, since I first met my husband in 61.
He's working her, Sam.
Your Honour at this time, we are very close to having a downpayment.
That's nice, Harry, but this hearing is not about your future situation, it's about Jamie's present.
How many schools has Jamie attended in the last, say, two years? Well, let me think.
Um Come on! Don't let me down now.
Mr Spontini? Uh Well, your Honour, I would probably I would have to check my records.
Um Battery looks good.
Because I, uh - I'll slug you! - why are you doing this? Something perhaps as simple as a birthday.
Ah! Hang on.
Well, it's 74 now.
She was born in 1962.
Perhaps you can recall a date? A date Oh, here! She attended Tetford School for No! Oh, no! Uh-oh.
I think I killed it, Sam.
Um I have I have never really been very good with dates.
Um And birthdays, sometimes I have trouble remembering my own birthday.
Umbut whatever the daywas, I just think it's important to note that I was there.
You work as a magician? Yeah, yeah, you saw me last night.
Who takes care of your daughte while you're working? Well, she's my assistant.
Your 12-year-old daughter works with you? The third photo is the Blue Mamba Club, where Mr Spontini and his daughter are currently employed.
Margaret Spontini and I visited the club last night.
I want you to note the living conditions, which this child is being subjected to, both physically and emotionally.
Mr Spontini, would you care to respond? Uh - She ran out on Jamie.
Your Honour .
.
I think that Har - that I that I have .
.
been a good father to Jamie.
I love her and I've been there for her every day and I would hope that that would count for something.
Now, maybe I'm not very good with the details and things like that, but .
.
I just .
.
I didn't walk out on my daughter.
Hey, I didn't have a choice! I am trying to make a better life for myself and I'm trying to make one for Jamie too.
Fight for her, Sam! Don't you think that's what I'm doing? I understand, Mr Spontini.
However, considering the fact that you have no permanent residence or steady employment, I have no choice but to award temporary custody of the minor, Jamie Spontini, to her mother.
Pending a formal hearing on the matter.
Sam! Why don't we ask Jamie what she wants? She's a minor, Mr Spontini.
My client searched for two and a half years before locating her daughter.
We feel Mr Spontini may flee with the child, given the opportunity.
Oh, your Honour, please - No, I'm not going to flinch.
I swear We believe it is in the best interests of Jamie that her father be denied visitation rights - Oh, no.
- until a formal decision is made.
I don't believe it's necessary to deny Mr Spontini access to his daughter.
Thank you.
However, visitation shall be limited to Mrs Spontini's home.
Mr Spontini, I'm sorry, but by five o'clock this afternoon, you shall deliver custody of the minor to her mother.
And Mr Spontini I suggest you retain legal counsel before the actual hearing.
Thank you, all.
Maggie - Come on, Harry.
Don't make me add reports of physical abuse to this hearing.
Steve.
Please, Harry.
I just want to talk to my wife alone.
She doesn't want to talk to you.
Maggie - It's best if you let Jamie be with me for a while.
You must believe that.
I don't and I don't think you do either.
I want my daughter.
Come on.
So, she wants a divorce? She hasn't belonged to us since she ran away.
We'll be OK.
Your mother wants to take care of you, Jamie, and the judge wants you to live with her for a while.
When? Today at 5:00.
I don't want to live with her.
Now, it's only temporary until the hearing's over.
Don't I have a choice? No.
Not in this one.
I'll be back here first thing in the morning.
I figured out where we are blowing that table of death illusion.
The judge says you can't come to the club.
Didn't you tell him you need me for the act? He doesn't think that a nightclub is a good place for a young girl to be working.
Is he nuts or something? I'm learning a trade.
He wants you in a real home.
That's why I'm taking you to your mother's in two hours.
We can run away.
I can pack.
If we don't show up, I'll be thrown in jail and you'll end up at your mother's anyway.
Harry, don't let them take me away.
It won't be for ever, OK? I'll find a way for the two of us to be together again soon.
I promise.
Now, I want you to do something for me, OK? Will you go to your mother's and stay with her for a couple of days until I get this all straightened out? OK? OK.
On one condition.
I re-rigged the shackles to open at once.
It'll be a snap.
If it's such a snap, why do they call it the Table of Death? Cos two guys have died doing it.
Two guys have died?! But you're better than them, Harry.
Huh.
Yeah.
You have an extra 15 seconds before it hits the final latch.
Then, all 900lbs of canopy come slamming down and splattering your guts all over the place.
Jamie, listen, there has got to be a better way to get the magic shop.
We need this to get on The Magician.
Watch this.
I told you it would work.
Hey, Sam, did I ever tell you that when I was in the orphanage, they used to call me Al the Pick? Failsafe fun.
60 seconds, Harry.
Go.
Uhis there any way to stop it? Gee, I'd like to do a trick like this.
What are you doing? I mean, you can pick locks in your sleep.
me, Sam.
I'm having a good time.
Ten seconds.
What's wrong? I can't I can't get the feel of it.
What? I can't (ALARM SOUNDS) I couldn't do it.
You're doing this on purpose.
You don't want me around anymore! Do you know how many hickeys I got from using that stuff? I got a million hickeys.
I almost got killed back there.
Hey, I was the guy in the rack.
I can't do the trick.
You saw.
I can not do that trick.
You've got to, unless you want Harry to lose his kid.
Well, maybe Maybe that's for the best.
But it's not.
Maggie wins custody and she marries Jaws and Jamie runs away from home trying to find her father.
She doesn't and she ends up on the street, stealing.
You can't let that kid's life be ruined by an ego-centric lawyer and an inept woman who didn't deserve to be her mother in the first place.
Al, I'm not going to let Harry lose his daughter, OK? Well, how you can to keep it from - Oh, I get it.
You're going to make nice-nice with the mother? Well, it's worth a shot.
I know that kind of woman, Sam.
You're wasting your time.
Al, maybe if your mom thought she had a chance, she'd have come back.
Maggie made a mistake.
I just want to give her a chance to fix it.
You're losing it, Harry.
Oh! I think you're supposed to wear that stuff, not drink it.
Well, I had a little accident and, uh You ready to go? No.
A great house.
Yeah, if you want to live with Wally and the Beaver.
Hi, Jamie.
Hi.
Hi.
For you.
Oh, thank you.
They smell likeAqua Velva.
Well Well, do you want to come in? Do I have a choice? You know, this is really It's a big change for her and maybe if I could Sure, Harry.
Come on in.
Oh, great.
Great.
Come on.
Well, make yourselves at home.
I'll be right back, OK? OK.
Just try, OK? Please? Give it a chance.
Lemonade.
With water, in case it's too strong.
Not too sweet.
Where did Jamie go? Umback yard.
Oh, Harry.
I'm sorry this is happening the way it is.
Steve thought it would be best if I I just wanted Jamie back.
Listen, umI'm sorry too.
I I said some things that I wish - You didn't say anything that wasn't true.
I just want a chance to make it up to her before it's too late.
I know.
And that's what I wanted to talk to you about.
This is a rough neighbourhood! Oh, my God! Jamie? (JAMIE LAUGHS) Where's your sense of humour, Maggie? I think this is just Jamie's way of saying she's really glad to be here.
Come on.
Why don't we saywhy don't we look at your new room, OK? My room is in our trailer in Oakland.
Wow, Maggie! You've done a terrific job.
Thank you.
Yeah, not a dust bunny in sight.
Hey, hey, look at this bed, huh? Come on.
Isn't this great? Sarah? I thought I lost her and And you had her all the time.
Jamie, I had her I took her because I needed something that was a part of you.
And Sarah made things a little easier for me for a while.
I like the bed.
What do you say we get you unpacked and settled in, all right? That's a great idea.
Here's the dresser.
The closet's right there.
Which drawer is mine? They're all yours.
I'll only be needing one.
I'm not staying long.
You look really nice.
Oh, that so? Thank you, Harry.
You know, Maggie .
.
you have to admit that we had some pretty terrific times.
Really? Yeah.
Yeah.
Like that, um .
.
that trip.
Which one? Well, Virginia Beach or New Orleans? New Orleans.
I knew that you'd say New Orleans! You were incredible that weekend, Harry.
Never been able to look at a balcony the same way again.
Balcony.
Um .
.
well, I feel the same way.
You want some brownies? They're the kind with the marshmallows.
Yeah.
Remember we ate a whole pan of these the night before Jamie was born? Ow! I just burned myself.
I'll get some butter.
Here, wait, wait.
Wait a second.
Let me look at it.
Come here.
Come on, come on.
Feel better? Why is it you always know what to do, Harry? Oh, Harry Harry This custody battle, it's crazy.
I mean - I know.
We can work these things out by ourselves.
Right? I mean, as soon as I get the magic shop, everything - Oh? The magic shop? Then you're going to settle down and buy a real home, right, Harry? I heard that before.
I heard it for eight years and I'm not going to hear it again.
So you walked away? Do you think that I wanted to leave my baby? God! I didn't have a choice, Harry.
I couldn't sit around waiting for all your fantasies to come true.
So I left her.
And I went out there and I made it happen, Harry.
Now I can give her all the things that we always wanted to give her.
(DOOR OPENING) Nice clothes, good schools - Why don't we give her them together? You let him inside the house? Well, not that it's any of your business, but I was talking to Maggie, who is still my wife, about Jamie, who will always be my daughter.
He was just leaving, Steve.
Good.
Because talking to you without your lawyer present could jeopardise his case.
A little free legal advice.
I don't want your advice.
I want my family.
Frankly, other than a few signatures, your family doesn't exist.
Harry, just leave.
Why don't you ask him to leave? Keep it up.
I can pretty much guarantee you no visitation rights.
You can't keep me from my daughter.
Don't count on it.
I always win.
That's what this is about for you, isn't it? Winning.
You don't care about Maggie.
I know you don't care about Jamie.
What? Come on.
Come on, stop! Huh! Smooth move, ex-lax.
Look, maybe you both should leave.
Come on, Maggie.
I think that's probably a good idea.
Come here.
See you tomorrow, sweetheart, OK? You too, Steve.
Smile and enjoy it, Jamie.
When I've finished with him in court, it'll be a cold day in hell before you and your mother ever lay eyes on him again.
I don't need a babysitter.
Honey, I feel bad about leaving you on your first day home.
Are you going to be OK? No sweat.
Don't you worry about a thing, Mrs Spontini.
I've been taking care of babies all my life.
I am not a baby.
How about if we go shopping later today? OK, Maggie.
How about "Mom"? Oh, give me a chance, Jamie.
I'm sorry, baby.
I'm sorry that I can't give you back the years I wasn't with you.
But I can give us a future together.
If you let me.
What about Harry? Who's going to take care of him? Harry is going to be OK.
You don't understand.
We know each other's thoughts.
We're a team.
Well, maybe we could be a team too.
And Steve? Is he part of our team? Steve loves me very, very much and he takes good care of me.
And he's the reason that you're with me again.
So you've got to give him a chance too, OK? Do you love him? I love you.
And that's all that matters to me right now.
I've got to get out of here before I'm late, OK? Oh, baby.
Bye bye.
Looks like she got you again, Sam.
She's a good kid, Al.
I hate to see her going through this.
Yeah, divorce is always hardest on the kids.
I think I've really messed this leap up.
Haven't I? I mean, maybe Maybe I should have hired an attorney.
No, that's how Spontini lost everything in the first place.
You're doing this right, Sam.
You go into court and you just talk from your heart and the judge has got to give you joint custody.
I've got a bad feeling about Jamie.
What kind of feeling? I don't know, I've just I've got a bad feeling.
Well, I'll check in on Jamie and you get ready to go to court.
The last thing you want to do is be late.
Jamie! Get off of that table! Jam - This is a mistake.
This is not going to work, Jamie.
Ziggy says you're going to die! Isn't it true that during your marriage to Harry Spontini, you and your child were dragged from one slum nightclub to the next? I I object.
This is not a trial, Mr Spontini.
We're only trying to establish a few facts.
Why don't you rephrase the question, Counsellor? Yes, your Honour.
Were you able to maintain any sense of a normal home life when you were married to Mr Spontini? Well, being aprofessional magician - Yes or no? No.
When you could no longer tolerate it, you were forced to leave.
Correct? Well, I left so that I could complete my education, get a job and provide a stable home for my child.
Something your husband could never do.
Now, Jamie, uhjust stay lying there and don't touch anything, don't do anything andwhy am I talking when she can't hear me? I've got to get Sam.
You still have no steady job or permanent residence.
Isn't that true, Mr Spontini? UhI can't hear you.
Yes, that's correct.
Yet you selfishly believe that you'd be the best choice for custody.
Look, I know thatat this time, society does not consider fathers to be the best choice as single parents but there is no law that says that a woman is a better parent than a man.
A simple yes or no - The important thing here is that the child's needs are being met.
Now, anybody who knows Jamie knows that I've done just that.
Sam! It's Jamie! What about Jamie? That's what we're here to decide, Mr Spontini.
She's trying to do that Table of Death trick.
What? Mr Spontini, are you all right? If you don't do something about it, she's going to die! Ziggy says you've got 14 minutes.
I've got to go.
You can't leave in the middle of proceedings.
Mr Spontini? Mr Spontini, you sit down or I will file you in contempt of court! I can't explain, your Honour.
I have a feeling my daughter is in trouble.
Jamie? Maggie, sit down.
We've got this thing won.
No! If he says she's in trouble, I'm going.
Hurry, Sam.
It takes ten minutes to get there.
We've got 13 left.
Harry! Harry! Harry, stop! Stop, stop! Come on.
Come on, hurry up.
Where are we going? The club.
The club? Harry, why are we going to the club? That's where Jamie is.
I left her with Mrs Futrell.
She's gone.
Look, you're just going to have to trust me, OK? I know that she's in danger.
Well, what's she doing at the club? The Table of Death trick.
She thinks that if we can do it, then we'll get on TV and get the magic shop.
Oh, great.
(HORN HONKS) (KIDS SCREAM) Look out for the kid on the bike! Thanks.
I didn't do anything.
Oh, no.
Help! Help! Break this lock! Stage door.
Jamie? Sam! Down here.
Hurry up! Daddy, get me out! Hurry! No, no, you can't stop it.
With the pick! Oh, yeah.
The pick is on the floor, Sam.
Now, just try and stay calm.
Steady hand.
You can do it, Sam.
Seven seconds.
Six.
Harry! Harry! Four.
Three seconds, Sam.
Two.
One! No! Oh, you did it, Sam.
Oh, baby! Oh, baby.
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Are you OK? Are you OK? Oh, God.
You Honour, Mr Spontini's actions clearly demonstrate his inability to raise this child.
You don't do anything about it! He encouraged Jamie, for his own professional gain, to experiment with a potentially lethal piece of equipment.
We believe he should face charges for felony child endangerment.
No, he shouldn't! Your Honour, Jamie was in my care.
If anybody endangered my child, it was me.
What are you saying? Look, Jamie has been trying to tell me but I just didn't want to see it.
They're too much a part of each other, Steve.
Sit down.
No, it's over.
I can't I can't take her away from you.
My client is under extreme duress due to these circumstances.
You're making a big mistake! I made a mistake three years ago, Steve, and I'm not going to make another one.
Your Honour, I would like to withdraw my petition.
Are both parties in accord? Yes.
All right! Well, this case is dismissed.
I'll reinstate proceedings for divorce first thing tomorrow.
I don't think so, Steve.
You've got to be kidding.
You have to understand that I can't go through my life wondering if I'm throwing something very special away.
I guess you and I have a different definition of what is special.
Yeah.
Steve - Looks like you're out of a job, butthead.
My sentiments exactly, butthead.
I'm really sorry I put you through all this mess.
I hope that some day, we can be good friends again.
I don't know.
What do you think? Andyou'll never go away again? I promise you with all my heart.
I love you, Mommy.
Oh, I love you, baby! Well, Sam, looks like Maggie makes good on her promise.
She and Jamie turn out to be a great team and Maggie finds a wonderful deal on a little magic shop, right around the corner from her place.
(Do Harry and Maggie end up together?) No, that's not in the cards, Sam.
Well then, maybe we're just going to have to change the cards.
I promise you.
Oh.
Well, this is amazing.
It's changing.
Yeah.
They fall in love again and then they get back together one year from today.
Jamie! Yo, man! Watch out! Look out! Oh, boy!