QUANTUM LEAP - REUNIONS
ACT 2A
THE PAST - DAY
Sam has leapt into a gang member before the drive-by
shooting occurs. He goes to be alone, anticipating Al's
arrival.
SAM
(Voice-over, as if
thinking)
It's been a while since I saw Al. I'd
better be alone when he gets here,
since no one else can see him, so I
don't make a fool of myself.
AL
Sam!
Sam looks up; Al is standing there. Emotional reunion,
as between best of friends; their bodies pass through
each other in an attempted hug. Each gives
appropriate exclamations.
AL
You don't know how glad I am to
see you. We've been so worried.
Ziggy's been working overtime. We
were afraid we'd lost ya forever.
SAM
God, it's great to see my favorite
hologram! How's Beth?
AL
Fantastic, as always. She's
visiting our oldest in Denver...
Thanks for asking!
SAM
You have kids?
AL
Sure, Sam. The same 4 girls we've
always had. Are you OK?
SAM
I'm fine, Al. I'm just great, and so
are you! I guess I knew you in
another lifetime; I'll have to get to
know ya all over again.
AL
What're ya talking about? Are you
sure you're OK? Ya know, Dr.
Beeks has been trying to analyze
what might have happened to you,
and...
SAM
Al, I'm fantastic! It's nothing to
worry about. Tell me about the
project.
AL
Well, with you leaping around as
yourself, you've led us on a merry
chase. Every time we'd get a
partial lock, you'd leap again. It's
a damn good thing Sammy Jo...
Sam reacts to the mention of Sammy Jo's name, starts
to say her name until caught up in balance of
conversation.
AL, CONTINUED
... was able to make a little magic.
She called it synthetically
duplicating my neurological
output. I can't imagine what it
would have been like if I'd had to
stand in that damn whirlwind for
the entire 5 years we've been
looking for you. I am so glad you
finally leaped into someone so we
could find you.
SAM
It's been 5 years? You're kidding!
AL
No! I'm not! That's why we were
so worried about you.
SAM
I can't believe it! I guess I'm not
aware of the passage of time in the
future. There's really only now,
and that changes so much, back
and forth from one year to the
next.... time just doesn't have
much meaning to me anymore. And
Sammy Jo! I remember now you
once said something about her
working with the project. God, she
must be all grown up! How is she,
Al?
AL
Sammy is wonderful, Sam. She's
been updating the retrieval
program. Are you ready to come
home, Buddy? We're up to a 37.9%
probability. Do you wanna give it
a try? Do you wanna come home?
Sam glances around, to make certain no one is watching
him. Continues to glance around periodically as he and
Al speak, sometimes making him or Al miss some of what
is said.
SAM
Home? .... Go Home.... You know,
Al... I guess I don't ever think
about going home any more. That
is, goin' home to the future. I
mean, I have so much to do; so
much to put right.
When I think of Home now, I only
think of my childhood, back on the
farm. When I grew up, I left home
and I went to work. Home is safe;
here... in my heart. The memories
are warm. Al, I can remember them
all now; everything from the past.
I guess sometimes I do get a little
lonely but I have my work and this
is where I belong.
No, Al, I no longer ever think of
going home in terms of my life in
the future. My work is too
important.... I don't think of going
home because I don't need to "go"
home; I am home.... Do you
understand?
AL
Yeah, I guess I do. I'm happy for
ya, Sam. More than you could ever
know.
(checks the hand link)
Let's see, now... we're in [location]
and it's... Oh! It's 1995. How 'bout
that. I don't recall you ever
leaping into the 1990s...
SAM
(looking around for any one
that might catch him talking)
Yeah. I helped a young man get
"on track" in school and leaped
forward to see him graduate from
medical school.
(directly to AL)
Afterward I picked up on an article
about the history of drive-by
shootings and I leapt back to fix
this situation. But I couldn't; I
didn't have the influence I needed.
All I managed to do was end up
trading a life for a life.
AL
You what? Leaped forward?
SAM
Yeah. And then I almost got
arrested...
AL
(total surprise)
Arrested! You?
SAM
Yeah,
(small laugh)
arrested.
AL
What'd you do?
SAM
Nothing... Well, actually,
everything I could, but it still
wasn't enough. The police thought
I was involved in the drive-by
shooting I was trying to prevent,
until I was questioned. But the
gang still thought I was involved
and started chasing me!
You cannot believe what I went
through! When I finally figured
out I should have leapt into some
one and was ready to leap, I
couldn't get alone or at least
hidden so that, when I leaped, no
one would see me disappear! I've
never had trouble getting alone
before. But it was like it was
intentional... as.. as if my leap was
being held-back. Being delayed on
purpose!
Then... it's the strangest thing...
but all of a sudden I was alone and
I could leap! It was as if I had
been waiting for something to
happen, so I could leap at some
predestined point in time.
AL
(reflectively)
Maybe you were, Sam.....
(more deliberately)
Hey, you seem different. Like your
brain isn't full of holes like it use
to be all the time when you first
started a new leap. It's like the
holes in your memory are more
about me. Do you remember
anything about the project, and
the future?
SAM
Well, yeah, I remember all the
theoretical stuff about the project
and Quantum Leap and about my
life as a kid. But I don't remember
much about my life in the future.
The swiss-cheese effect is
somehow different. Now I can
clearly remember everything that
has happened from Leap to Leap;
but the future has been fading. As
soon as I figured out I should have
leapt into someone I remembered
you, of course, and Ziggy. I didn't
remembered Dr. Beeks and Sammy
Jo until after you mentioned their
names. And everything else is
pretty cloudy.
AL
I wish you could have contacted
us, Sam.
SAM
I'm sorry, Al. I've been so busy,
my work is all I've really thought
about.
AL
It's been 5 years, Sam.
SAM
But I didn't know that. And like I
said, I've forgotten most of the
future unless I get a direct
reminder. It's sort of faded from
my memory.
AL
The last time I saw you, you were
so... upset... Haven't you needed
us? Didn't you think anyone would
be worried? Didn't you even think
of...
(stops himself)
well, anyone? Ah... Gushie was
afraid there was something wrong
and you couldn't leap into
anyone...
SAM
Oh yeah. Gushie! How could I not
remember Gushie!
(throws his head back; calls
out up toward the sky)
I'm sorry, Gushie! Didn't mean to
scare you!
(looks at Al)
There wasn't anything wrong. It's
just been so constant. And some
how more difficult to a degree... ya
know, being myself to people...
And it's sort of hit-and-run, in-
and-out; at least up until this
Leap. But I'm OK. And I honestly
didn't know it had been so long.
AL
Well, it might've crossed your mind
that we'd be concerned.
SAM
I'm sorry, Al. I've been so busy, I
just didn't think that...
AL
I'll say. Talk about an
understatement. You didn't think
at all!
SAM
Alright! I should have contacted
you.
(then with sarcasm)
Ya know, I would have, but I
couldn't remember the project's
phone number or address. I
looked it up in the phone book
every chance I had, but I never
did find it listed. It's not in the
white pages, and it's not in the
yellow pages under secret
government projects. I'd 'of
dropped by when I was in the
neighborhood, if I could 'of
remembered what state it's in. Is
it in this country?
AL
OK! Sorry. I get your point.
Sorry.
SAM
Well, I didn't really look it up in
the phone book. But I have been
absolutely consumed with helping
people, Al. There's so much to be
done.
Sam continues glancing around, to make certain no one
is watching them, at first not hearing exactly what Al
is saying.
AL
Hey, I guess it's kind of like a
reward to you. You know; with
"Whatever-it-is" letting you be
yourself now, instead of just
jumping you into people.... Hey.
Wait a minute. How'd you
remember Beth? And how'd you
leap into the future to see a kid
graduate?
Sam. Hey, Sam...
SAM
What?
AL
You remembered Beth, but I didn't
mention her... And the kid. You
leapt forward to see him graduate?
You mean God, or Fate, or
(waves his cigar)
whatever-it-is that's flipping you
through time, now leaps you to the
future to see how things turn out?
SAM
Oh, no. Wait just a minute. I need
to make certain you understand
exactly what's involved here.
AL
Whadaya mean; involved... Why?
What's goin' on? What's wrong?
Are you sure you're OK?
SAM
(said with a little chuckle)
Yes, I'm OK and nothin's wrong.
What I mean is... it's me. I've
know for so long, I can't believe I
didn't realize you wouldn't know
yet that it's ME!
AL
What are you talking about? Of
course I know it's you. You're
standing right there. And believe
me, Sam, it's great to see you.
SAM
No.
(gives another little chuckle)
No, Al, I mean it's BEEN me.... all
along. I'm the one that's been
leaping me around through time.
Al is shocked. Sam grins; slowly nods his head yes.
SAM
I read about someone or something
and leap back to help. And now
that I know it's me in control, I
sometimes leap forward to enjoy
how something turned out. Then I
read about someone, and leap back
again.
AL
You think YOU'RE the one leaping
yourself around through time?
SAM
Yes! But not exactly... What I
mean is not COMPLETELY on my
own. See, when I read an article in
a magazine or newspaper about
someone whose life has gone
wrong, sometimes I just know I can
help set things right so I just leap
there... sort of like picking the
target... Ya know, knowing where
I'm headed because I chose the
situation... Someone or something
else gets me to the right time and
place.
AL
You pick the target.... You're
kidding.
SAM
No, I'm not. I pick the wrong that
was done; whoever's in charge
gets me there to fix it.
AL
You really are serious, aren't ya?
You really think YOU'VE been
doing all of this... You read stories
about injustices or bad things that
have happened to someone and
then you travel through time to fix
them... You've been doing all that
yourself. And you can leap back
and forth through time, at will, to
check the outcome.
SAM
Not all by myself, but yeah,
basically it's been me.
(then to himself)
Just like he told me.
AL
He? He, who?
SAM
(semi-absentmindedly, as if
deep in thought)
Al.... Al told me.
AL
I did not. I swear.
SAM
(laughs)
No wait. Sorry. Not you. The Al
from the bar.
AL
Sam, are you SURE you're OK?
SAM
Al, I'm fine. Remember my Leap the
last time I saw you.
AL
The coal mine. Yeah. Who could
forget. You scared us to death.
SAM
Yeah, sorry 'bout that. For a while
there, I was pretty scared, myself.
But, remember the bar?
AL
Oh, yeah! I remember the bar...
and the bartender. Who could
forget!
SAM
Well, that was the bartender's
name... you remember... I told you
he was trying to tell me I was the
one leaping myself around, but I
didn't believe him. Well, his name
was Al.
AL
Not the bartender, again! Sa-am!
SAM
No, wait. Really, Al. The bartender
told me...
AL
Yeah, yeah, I know - the bartender
told you that you were the one
leaping yourself through time.
Was that before or after all the
martinis?
(with concern)
You were so... so crazy. An' you
were talkin' all that crazy stuff
about the bartender, and thinkin'
maybe he was "god" or somethin'.
Sam, I'm not so sure you're alright.
You haven't gone off the deep-end,
have you?
SAM
No, no. I'm fine, Al.
(then spoken to himself)
When he told me I was the one
doing it... leaping myself around...
he also told me that, technically, I
could go home whenever I wanted
to. I guess, in my own way, I did.
AL
When HE told you. He who? You
mean "god"?
SAM
No; I mean the BARTENDER; It's
just that, at the time, I was
confused and I didn't understand.
AL
Well, Dr. Beeks explained to me
what was probably going on in that
noggin' of yours, like you were
shell-shocked, or something. And
when you didn't leap into anyone
for so very long, I decided I wasn't
even going to consider you might
be in trouble. I just flat decided
there was no way that was the
case.... I refused to consider you
being in trouble as a possibility
because you were completely on
your own and there wasn't a damn
thing I could do about it. I
couldn't be there to help you.
But after five years I was hoping
you'd have pulled yourself
together. Maybe we should try to
retrieve you and let Dr. Beeks
have a look at ya.
SAM
Thanks, Al. Thanks for your
concern and your love. Ya know,
one of the reasons I still can't
believe it's been five years is
because I can't imagine going five
years without your help! You mean
a lot to me, Al.
AL
Well, you mean a whole hell of a lot
to me, Buddy.
SAM
Well, you can stop worrying. I
don't need Beeks to examine my
head, and I haven't gone off the
deep-end. That day... five years
ago at the bar... I was experiencing
a lot of confusing things and
discovering a lot of revelations
that were difficult for me to
accept. I really wasn't prepared to
deal with everything. At least not
all at once, and that's how I was
getting it! After you left, the
bartender talked to me some more
and I finally understood what he'd
been trying to tell me.
And now you're telling me it's been
5 years... Al, during all those
years, I've read or heard about
each and every person and
situation before I've made a leap,
and that's where I've leaped to...
every time. Don't you see? I must
be picking the targets for my
leaps. Cause for each and every
leap I've made, I've known where
I'm going before I leap there!
AL
Whoa, now. Wait just a minute.
You really are the one leaping
yourself around? Or, at least,
picking the targets? I mean, you
KNOW you've been picking the
targets since you leaped into the
coal mine and the bar?
SAM
Yes! And I think whoever, or
whatever-it-is, lets me pick the
targets because Quantum Leap was
my project... my life's goal - to
travel through time to set right
what once went wrong.
AL
It's so unbelievable. All this time
we thought it was a higher power
arbitrarily leapin' you around...
but all along it's been you. Leapin'
around, pin-pointing
destinations....
SAM
Yes!
AL
But, I wonder. Could it have been
you from the very beginning?
SAM
Well, he said it had been me.
AL
Whoa! Hey, Sam! Do you realize it
probably has been you doing it all
along.... pickin' targets... It hasn't
been arbitrary at all.
Think about it. How'd you know
who to leap into before you started
getting your info from the Daily
News? I mean, if it really has been
you, all along, from the very
beginning.
SAM
I dunno... I can't believe I haven't
even stopped to think about that!
Once I realized what was
happening, I didn't take the time
to think about any of this; I've
been so busy just reading about
people to help, and then helping
them.
AL
But think about it.... You're the
one that originally programmed
Ziggy with most of the major
information for the years during
your lifetime. I mean, sure, the
technicians programmed the nitty-
gritty data, but you entered all the
major stuff into the memory banks.
You know.... Your photographic
memory! You had all the info ya
needed to knew who to leap into...
I mean... ya know .....in your
subconscious... maybe you recalled
each of the situations you had
entered into the computer and you
knew whose life had gone wrong,
and that...
SAM
... that told me who to leap into to
help! I bet you're right, Al. That
must be it! It has been me all
along. From the very beginning!
AL
Well, ain't that a kick in the butt!
Who'd of thought!
SAM
Amazing. =1A