QUANTUM LEAP - REUNIONS
INTRODUCTION:
The name of the proposed Quantum Leap full-length feature film
is Quantum Leap - Reunions, and it attempts to adhere to the
characterizations, situations, and parameters established during
the Quantum Leap television series. The underlying goal of the
film is to reconcile a number of situations left unresolved by the
series. The plot explains why Sam never went home again, as was
indicated at the close of the series finale. Through reunions
between the characters along with the characteristic righting of
wrongs, the story line resolves Sam's relationship with Donna
(his wife), Al's promise to see Teresa again ("Another Mother"
episode), Sam's relationship with Tamlyn (his lover in the
"Temptation Eyes" episode), and it allows Sam to fulfill his own
emotional and physical needs as he continues his work - leaping
through time, putting right what once went wrong.
This Quantum Leap - Reunions screenplay is written as a sequel
to the television series. Therefore it is necessary that the
screenplay use scenes from various episodes of the series, either
in the form of "live action" or flashbacks, to provide background
information for the viewer. The author of this work realizes the
scenes and characters from the Quantum Leap television series
are copyrighted, and the author of this work in no way presumes
to take any literary credit for same.
"Reunions" utilizes scenes from the final episode of the Quantum
Leap series, "Mirror Image". The use of these scenes is intended
to give necessary background information to benefit any viewers
that may have forgotten (or did not see) the final episode of the
series.
THEREFORE, CREDIT FOR THE GENERAL CONCEPT AND
CHARACTERS OF QUANTUM LEAP BELONGS TO THE LEGAL OWNER
OF THE COPYRIGHT; CREDIT FOR THE OPENING SCENES OF THIS
SCREENPLAY BELONGS TO THE LEGAL OWNER OF THE COPYRIGHT
OF THE FINAL EPISODE OF THE QUANTUM LEAP SERIES ENTITLED
"MIRROR IMAGE", DONALD P. BELLISARIO, WRITER. CREDIT FOR
THE FLASHBACK SCENES BELONGS TO THE LEGAL OWNER OF THE
COPYRIGHT OF THE INDIVIDUAL EPISODE AND/OR: DONALD P.
BELLISARIO, WRITER, "MIRROR IMAGE", "HONEYMOON EXPRESS",
"MIA", "THE LEAP BACK"; DEBORAH PRATT, WRITER, "ANOTHER
MOTHER"; PAUL BROWN, WRITER, "TEMPTATION EYES". CREDIT
FOR THE EXTENDED PROLOGUE, AS TAKEN FROM THE CD,
BELONGS TO THE LEGAL OWNER OF THE COPYRIGHT FOR SAME.
The balance of the screenplay is presented in suggested dialogue
and action, or through explanation of action and dialogue.
It is five years before those working on the Quantum Leap
Project are able to again make contact with the main character,
Sam Beckett. This is because he has been leaping through time
as himself rather than leaping into another individual, and the
computer (Ziggy); has not been able to get a complete lock on his
location before he leaps again.
The primary leap in the film deals with gang violence and the
tragedy experienced by the innocent victims of drive-by
shootings. The author of this work does not possess the
resources required to research and develop the dialogue for this
section. Furthermore, it is assumed the producer will want to
choose the location and, thus, the ethnic backgrounds of the
gangs. Once these aspects are determined and the research is
done, character names and the balance of the dialogue for this
aspect of the film can be established and completed. The location
will also dictate the parameters of the chase scene when Sam is
running from his pursuers.
The characteristic "righting of all wrongs" is achieved through
the prevention of the drive-by shooting, the resolution of
Donna's and Sam's relationship, the resolution of Sam's and
Tamlyn's relationship, and the resolution of Sam's lonely life.
As was the case in the series, the film's ending is the actual
beginning of a sequel; the ending of which is the actual
beginning of a third movie. (A suggested synopsis is included
on each possible sequel.)
In developing the plot for Quantum Leap - Reunions, great care
was taken to analyze the characters established during the
series and to make certain the resolutions of the situations were
in keeping with the established characterizations.
An example:
Sam is in the business of putting right what once went wrong.
Throughout the series, Sam represented all that is good in
mankind. True, he is human, with human frailties; but his sense
of justice, honor, integrity, loyalty, and knowing "right from
wrong" is of the highest caliber.
Because Sam never goes home, he deprives himself of a loving
and caring relationship and he leaves his wife's life in limbo and
prolonged uncertainty. It might be automatic to consider either
having her join him in the feature film or devising some other
plan for them to get together. Further reflection would make one
realize this would be impossible and would not make their
situation "right". In keeping with his character from the series,
Sam's sense of guilt would make it virtually impossible for him to
ever justify his past actions to his wife; he could never make it
up to her. His initial joy at being reunited with her would
eventually turn into a need to continually atone for his
"unfaithfulness". That is one "wrong" he could never make
"right".
Although he would still feel guilty, most of his acts of
unfaithfulness during the series were necessary to resolve lives
and right wrongs. However, at times Sam did fall deeply in love
and often experienced the sexual expression of that love.
Although these occurrences were understandable, they were not
always necessary to right the wrongs he was there to correct.
In the "Catch a Falling Star" episode, he fell in love with someone
he had loved in his past, but the person he leaped into was in
love with her as well. In the "Trilogy", he just plain fell in love
with the woman he met, and it is assumed the child from that
encounter, Sammy Jo, is his. But Abigail thought Sam was
actually the character into whom he had leaped; when Sam leapt
out, the character remained. She did not know she had lost Sam
and the resolution of her situation was given at the conclusion
of those episodes. However, with Tamlyn in "Temptation Eyes",
she knew it was Sam because of her psychic abilities. When he
leapt out, she lost him; she knew she had lost her love, and she
was certain she had lost him forever. Her situation was left as
open and pending as Donna's situation.
Sam fell in love because he is human and did not remember he
was married to Donna in the future. Had he remembered, he still
may have fallen in love because he is human, but he would never
have done anything physical about it. For someone with such
high ideals, falling in love with another would be difficult
enough to atone for; the act of experiencing the physical nature
of that love would be impossible to atone for. Thus, the film
should resolve Sam's situation of being without love; Donna's
situation of being without her husband; and Tamlyn's situation,
having lost her true love.
Janey Balogh - RhymeNSurf@AOL.COM
QUANTUM LEAP - REUNIONS
PROLOGUE
The movie opens with the dialogue from the "Prologue"
from the CD with the following revisions, accompanied
by images of Dr. Sam Beckett's leaps through time - as
shown in the series.
NARRATOR
Theorizing that one could time
travel within his own lifetime, Dr.
Sam Beckett led a unique group of
scientists into the desert to
develop a top secret project known
as Quantum Leap.
Pressured to prove his theories or
lose funding, Dr. Beckett
prematurely stepped into the
project accelerator,
...and vanished!
He awoke to find himself in the
past, suffering from partial
amnesia and facing a mirror image
that was not his own.
Fortunately, contact with his own
time was maintained through
brain-wave transmissions with Al,
the project observer, who
appeared in the form of a hologram
that only Dr. Beckett could see and
hear.
Trapped in the past, Dr. Beckett
found himself leaping in and out of
other peoples' lives. Each person
he leaped into would wait in the
future while Dr. Beckett assumed
the appearance and identity of
that person until he could put
right what once went wrong and
leap out again.
With each new leap, Ziggy, the
project computer, could locate and
lock-on to Dr. Beckett through the
person in the Waiting Room. Al
could then stand in the Imaging
Chamber and Ziggy could transmit
Al's image to Dr. Beckett to help
identify and complete each task.
For years, Dr. Beckett continued
his quest to make the world a
better place by righting wrongs;
always hoping to one day return
home to his own time and his own
identity.
At this point in the images from the various leaps from
the series, show images from "Mirror Image" starting
with flashing lights as he begins the Leap; Sam
materializes in front of the bar.
NARRATOR
Thus, it was quite unexpected
when Dr. Beckett suddenly
materialized and found his own
image staring back from his
reflection.
Sam sees himself in the mirror behind the bar.
NARRATOR
For the first time, Dr. Beckett had
not leaped into someone - he had
leaped as himself!
Unfortunately, this meant there
was no one in the Waiting Room,
and no way for Ziggy to quickly
lock on to Dr. Beckett's location.
And so began the search to find
Dr. Beckett...
FADE IN:
INT. QUANTUM LEAP CONTROL ROOM - THE FUTURE
>From "Mirror Image"
Al is talking with Gushie, as they get ready to search
for Sam.
AL
So how long is this NANO Search
going to take?
GUSHIE
A little over a month.
AL
A month! You expect me to stand in
the Imaging Chamber for a month?
GUSHIE
Well.. well Ziggy estimates there is
an 80% chance we can acquire a
neuro-lock in as little as two-and-
a-half weeks; give or take a day or
two.
AL
Gush-ie!...
(Al enters the Imaging
Chamber.)
Ready, Gushie?
GUSHIE
Affirmative, Admiral.
Al starts the NANO Search with the hand link.
AL
I know you're out there
somewhere, Sam. Lock on to me,
Buddy; lock on.
Al stands in the whirlwind of the Nano Search.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
Al is still in the Whirlwind.
Caption: Hours Later
AL
Gushie, this isn't working. I'm
getting dizzy.
GUSHIE
We've hardly begun, Admiral. If
we could only narrow the search.
AL
Sam's birthday. Wherever he is,
it's his birthday.
GUSHIE
How do you know that?
AL
It's just a feeling... I have a
hunch. Have Ziggy search his
birthdays.
INT. BAR FROM "MIRROR IMAGE" - THE PAST
The Bartender-Al pours the Bar-Gushie a drink. Sam
sees the Bar-Gushie as a young man in the mirror, but
as an old man standing next to him.
BARTENDER-AL
Can you accept what you see as
reality?
SAM
(points to one then the
other)
Which reality do I accept? That
one, or that one?
BARTENDER-AL
Haven't you accepted both; looking
in all those mirrors?
SAM
You are the one who's been leaping
me, aren't you.
BARTENDER-AL
I wouldn't say that.
SAM
Well what would you say?
BARTENDER-AL
That he's...
(points to Sam's
reflection in the mirror)
...been leaping you through time.
SAM
No. No, no, NO. No way... No way
will I buy that.
BARTENDER-AL
Why did you create Project
Quantum Leap, Sam?
SAM
To travel in time.
BARTENDER-AL
Why did you want to travel
through time?
SAM
Because... I
(fumble-stutter)
I wha-wah-wanted to uh...
BARTENDER-AL
To make the world a better place?
SAM
Of course; to make the world a
better place.
BARTENDER-AL
To put right what once went
wrong?
SAM
Yes... But not one life at a time.
BARTENDER-AL
Ah! I've got Mother Teresa here.
Do you really think that all you've
done is change a few lives?
SAM
Basically, yes.
BARTENDER-AL
At the risk of over-inflating your
ego, Sam, you've done more. The
lives you've touched, touched
others. And those lives, others.
You've done a lot of good Sam
Beckett; and you can do a lot more.
SAM
I don't want to do more..... I want
to go home.
BARTENDER-AL
Then why haven't you?
SAM
Because I don't control my future.
You do.
BARTENDER-AL
Sam. You will only do this as long
as you want to.
SAM
Are you saying I can leap home any
time I want to?
BARTENDER-AL
Technically, yes.
SAM
What's the catch?
BARTENDER-AL
The catch... is that you have to
accept that you control your own
destiny.
CUT TO:
INT. QUANTUM LEAP CONTROL ROOM - FUTURE
Still scenes from "Mirror Image".
Gushie announces getting a lock.
CUT TO:
INT. BAR IN THE PAST
Al appears in the bar.
AL
Thank God. Sam! Sam. Come on,
outside. Outside.
Al waves to Sam to follow him outside. Sam follows.
SAM
Al.
AL
Good. Outside, Sam..... Hey.. Ahhh.
It's so good to see you.
SAM
(spoken over Al's words)
I can't believe you found me!
AL
Yeah, I'm here, but where is here?
SAM
Al's place.
AL
(laughs)
I always wanted my own bar.
SAM
Yeah, well this is more than a bar,
Al. This is where it all started.
AL
Eh, what started?
SAM
Quantum Leap.
AL
Well, but this isn't.. this isn't New
Mexico.
SAM
No. No, no, not the Project... you
remember the first time I leaped...
and... we all thought that someone
or something... grabbed me..
AL
Yeah.
SAM
He's the...
(points through the
window at Bartender-Al)
someone or something that...
grabbed me.
AL
You mean the bartender?
SAM
Yeah. That bartender's been
leaping me around. He wants me to
believe that I'm the one leaping me,
but I...
CUT TO:
AL
Sam, uh, I think we'd better get
you out of here.
SAM
No, Al. Please, please... everything
I'm telling you is the truth.
AL
Yeah-eh, eh... You haven't been
leaped around by God or fate or
time; but, no, you've been leaped
by a bartender.
SAM
Yes, but he's not just a bartender.
That's what I've been trying to tell
ya, Al, I think he is God, or time, or
fate, or maybe something we've
never even thought of.
AL
Gushie!
CUT TO:
Sam laughs, then glances over his shoulder into the
bar.
AL
It's not funny.
SAM
Ah, but it is...
AL
Why!
SAM
I don't know Al, it just..it..
AL
Ahhh, Sa.. ahhh.. just take it easy.
I'm gonna go back and figure this
out with Ziggy, but... I'm gonna
get you out of this.... Whatever it
takes, I'll... I'll get you out of this.
Al leaves through the Imaging Chamber door. The
Bartender-Al comes outside to join Sam - edit out "Al's
uncle" and "I've always found coincidence amusing".
Sam
You still want me to believe that
I'm... leaping me.
BARTENDER-AL
Sam, if you became a priest...
SAM
I've been a priest.
BARTENDER-AL
So you have... If the priesthood
had been your chosen life... even
though the church might move you
from parish to parish, don't you
have to accept responsibility for
the life you lead?
SAM
Even a priest can quit.
BARTENDER-AL
That's true. Humm... But they can
also take sabbaticals. Especially
before embarking on a difficult,
new assignment.
SAM
Are you telling me that the leaps
are gonna get tougher?
BARTENDER-AL
Where would you like to go, Sam?
SAM
(long pause)
Home....
CUT TO:
Flashbacks from other episodes added here to the
current scenes from "Mirror Image".
First: Scene from "MIA" - Al: "I was an MIA; and my
wife thought I was dead; and by the time they got word
to her that I was alive, she had remarried and then
disappeared."
Second: Scene from "Honeymoon Express" - Al: "Ya
know, my first wife and I spent our honeymoon on the
train to Niagara Falls, and my third wife, and my fourth
wife, or was it the fifth?"
Third: Scene from "MIA" - Al: "Beth is the only woman
I ever really loved; she's the only one I ever wanted to
grow old with. That's why all my marriages never
worked after that.... Sam, if you're LUCKY, life is
gonna give you ONE SHOT at true love.. and Beth was
mine. I lost her but you could get her back."
End of flashbacks.
SAM
I'd like to go home. But I can't,
can I?... I've got a wrong to put
right for Al. You knew that, didn't
ya?
BARTENDER-AL
God bless, Sam.
Sam leaps.
INT. BETH'S HOUSE - NIGHT
>From "Mirror Image"
Sam materializes as himself.
SAM
Beth.
BETH
(gasps)
Who are you? How... How did you
get in here?
SAM
I'm not gonna harm you; I'm here
to help you. Help you and help Al.
BETH
Al... You're, you're a friend of
Al's?
SAM
Yeah.... I'm a friend of Al's... Do
you think we could sit?
Sam and Beth sit on the sofa.
SAM
I'm gonna tell you a story, Beth. A
story with a happy ending. But
only if you believe me.
BETH
And if I don't?
SAM
You will. I swear you will... But
instead of starting with Once Upon
a Time, let's start with the happy
ending. Al's alive. And he's
coming home.
Beth cries with joy.
Cut before "leap" on photo of Al.
The status lines from the end of "Mirror Image" are
shown, changing the first to "Beth doesn't remarry.
She waits for Al." The status lines continue as they
originally appeared, beginning with "She and Al have
4 daughters..."; and ending with "Dr. Sam Beckett
never returned home."
End of Introductory scenes from episodes of the
series.=1A