Regional
titles:
"Blind Faith" original title
"Blindes Vertrauen" in German (meaning the same)
"L'amour aveugle", in French (meaning "Blind Love")
"L'amore è cieco" in Italian (meaning "Blind Love")
TV
Guide Synopsis: Sam
plays it again as a famous blind pianist who must prevent the murder of
a friend. Michele: Cynthia Bain. Agnes: Jennifer Rhodes. Pete: Kevin
Skousen. Stage Manager: Sloan Fischer. Sam: Scott Bakula.
Samuel
Beckett finds himself just finishing a piano performance in a huge
music hall. As the audience bursts into applause, Sam has no choice but
to stand up and take a bow. He notices a dog at his side, barking at
him, realizes he's wearing dark glasses, and concludes that he's
supposed to be blind. A woman off-stage, his assistant Michelle Stevens
(played by Cynthia Bain), calls over the dog, Chopin. It drags Sam
along with him and she congratulates Sam, referring to him as Andrew.
The crowd calls for an encore while Chopin growls at Sam, sensing who
he really is, and Michelle is surprised that Sam isn't going out for
the encore. Realizing he has no choice, Sam goes back to the piano,
hesitates, and then starts playing Chopsticks. The audience thinks he
is ending the performance on a lighthearted note and applauds. As Sam
leaves the stage, Michelle says she's looking forward to seeing what
he'll play tomorrow night.
Outside, Michelle escorts Sam home and she talks about how much she
admires him. Sam spots a newspaper confirming he's in New York City on
February 6, 1964. When Michelle wonders how he knew they were at a
newspaper kiosk, Sam claims he heard newspapers rustling. As they
continue on, neither one notices a headline about a third girl
strangled in Central Park. Michelle asks him why he decided to play
Chopsticks and Sam claims it's the only thing that came to mind. They
go to Sam's apartment building and she says her mother wants her home
by midnight, and that she hopes Sam will like her. She kisses Sam on
the cheek and says goodnight.
A French woman comes out with her dogs and takes them for a walk, as
Sam realizes she lives in the building as well. He confirms what
apartment he lives in and starts to go in, and mounted police officer
Peter O'Shannon (played by Kevin Skousen) comes out of the neighboring
apartment on his way to work. He complains about the fact the police
are working double-shift to protect some British rock performers in
town. Peter feeds Chopin some peanuts and Sam goes into the apartment.
Michelle takes the bus home and removes some hidden books from a
cabinet. Her Agnes is waiting and complains that Michelle didn't call
and is running late. Michelle claims she was studying and was out with
friends. Agnes knows she's lying because she left one of her books
behind. Michelle says she went to Carnegie Hall because she got a
ticket for a concert at the last moment. Agnes complains about how
she's working to give Michelle the money she needs to enter nursing
school, and how she'll end up alone with a daughter when her husband
abandons her. Michelle gives in and Agnes takes a more sympathetic
tone, saying that nursing is steady work and there'll be no Prince
Charming to sweep her away.
Sam is trying to find Andrew's music when Al arrives and explains that
Andrew learned to play by ear. Al checks his hand link and confirms Sam
is in New York three days before the Beatles played The Ed Sullivan
Show. Andrew's concert is a huge success, but afterward, Michelle is
strangled in Central Park. Sam figures since he can see, he can prevent
Michelle from being killed. He's concerned that he won't be able to
play at the piano, but Al says that he can help him with that and says
that he'll be there the next night for Sam. In the park, the French
woman is walking her dogs when the killer finds and murders her.
The next day, hordes of teenage girls have gathered for the Beatles,
and the police try to keep them back. Sam is walking past and ends up
catching a girl as she faints. When he almost walks into traffic,
Chopin warns him. Peter notices and comes over, and tells Sam they
found another body in the park.
Sam meets Michelle at a diner for lunch and she wonders if he's feeling
okay. He slips again, noticing his sandwich doesn't have mustard, and
quickly covers by saying he didn't smell it. Sam then notes she has a
pretty smile and claims that he can tell her from her laugh. Michelle
admits she doesn't have much to laugh at around the hospital, but she
feels relaxed around him and can be herself. When she mentions her
mother, Sam asks when he'll get to meet Agnes, and Michelle makes
excuses, saying her mother is too tired after work. Sam realizes
Michelle is reluctant to be a nurse and the girl admits she likes being
around great music. She heads off for class but not before Sam asks her
to have dinner after the concert. Michelle says she'll have to ask her
mother but then has second thoughts and promises Sam she'll go out with
him. As she leaves, she's unaware that Agnes has been following her.
Back at Andrew's apartment, Sam listens to Andrew's recorded
performances and wonders how he'll get through the concert. Chopin asks
for food and Al arrives to taunt the dog. He starts reading the dog's
food mixture box out loud, unaware that Agnes has come in behind him.
Al warns him too late and Agnes tells him to stay away from Michelle or
she'll reveal his charade to the world. She refuses to let anyone take
her daughter from her and walks out.
Later that night, Sam prepares as best he can for his performance but
apologizes to Andrew's reflection. Michelle comes to his dressing room
and Sam tells her about Agnes' visit. She explains that her mother
constantly reminds her that she's not pretty enough and she has no
talent. Sam tries to reassure her and Michelle wonders how he can get
through his life with his blindness. He tells her that sometimes you
have to do what you feel is best and ignore others, and tells Michelle
she owes her mother her love, not her life. She considers what he's
said and embraces him.
On stage, Sam hesitates until Chopin literally pulls him to the piano.
Unsure how to begin, Sam whispers for Al, who finally appears in a
white tuxedo and carrying piano music. Al has to touch it so that Sam
can continue to see it through their neurological connection. Sam
wonders how he can play it, and Al tells him to just try. Sam goes
ahead and discovers that he can play perfectly. Al explains that Sam
played at Carnegie Hall when he was 19.
Meanwhile, as Sam performs, Agnes comes to see Michelle and say that
Sam will leave her. She dismisses Michelle as soft and sweet, and talks
of how she's had to be tough for both of them. Agnes says that Sam
can't want an ordinary girl clinging to him. When Michelle accuses her
of jealousy, Agnes slaps her and says that Sam isn't blind. On stage,
Sam finishes his performance and takes his bow, and then turns and
clearly sees Agnes. Michelle realizes that Agnes was right and breaks
into tears while running off.
Chopin drags Sam off momentarily and by the time he goes after her,
it's too late: Michelle has merged with the crowd of teenagers outside
cheering on the Beatles. Sam drops his glasses and turns as a photo
flashbulb goes off in his face. Al finds him and Sam explains that he's
blinded. He tries to cross the street and Chopin saves him just in
time. Sam gets to a fountain to try to rinse his eyes out, but he
realizes that he can't see.
Al directs Sam to the park to find Michelle. Meanwhile, the girl
finally slows down but hears someone behind her. She turns and sees a
masked man wielding a belt to strangle her. He chases her down and
starts choking her. She stabs him with a nail file and breaks free.
When they come to a fork in the path, Sam tells Chopin to find
Michelle. The dog guides them into the park where they find her
discarded purse.
In the park, Michelle finds Pete and embraces him in relief. However,
when she notices that he's bleeding, she realizes that he's the
strangler. Sam hears her cries, follows them, and releases Chopin. The
dog holds Pete down while Al directs Sam to the officer's handcuffs so
he can restrain the killer.
As the police take the deranged Pete away, Agnes arrives and blames Sam
for endangering Michelle. Sam has already provided a cover story for
how he recognized Agnes by her perfume. She lights a cigarette and
thrust the flame into Sam's face, but he doesn't react because of his
temporary blindness. Agnes believes she's been wrong all along and
walks away. Sam tells Michelle to go after her. Once she goes, Sam
starts to regain his eyesight and can make out Al at his side. Sam
wonders why he's still there and Al says he may not have saved
Michelle's emotional life yet.
Realizing what he means, Sam goes over and says that Michelle loves
her, so much she'll sacrifice her life for her mother. Agnes insists
that she loves her daughter, but Sam warns that it's a smothering love.
She asks Michelle what she wants to do. When it becomes clear what
Michelle wants, Agnes says that she has her own life and Michelle could
do with a little independence. Michelle embraces her mother while Sam
smiles and leaps. Source
Personal Review by Xeen:
Blind Faith has always been one of my favourite episodes probably
because I can relate to Andrew's blindness for various personal reasons
(my mother is almost blind). The relationship mother/daughter is
vividly pictured even if the mother seems abusive to her only child.
Both could work on an arrangement but it is difficult to get to it when
your own life was thrown to pieces since your husband left the house.
Mrs Stevens sure does not want her daughter to go through what she had
to go through. She hopes for a better future and that is why she
insists on Michelle having a training in nursing.
Music:
"Chopsticks" which Sam can play at Carnegie Hall (but Al could not in
China Town) written by Arthur de Lulli (alias Euphemia Allen), The
Celebrated Chop Waltz (1877).
Grieg's Piano
Concerto in A Minor (Scott does
play the piano but
there is no indication that we hear what he really plays)
A piece on the
radio, Frederic Chopin's Etude
Opus 10 No. 12 Allegro
con fuoco, in C Minor
Ziggy cannot
figure out that Andrew's neighbor
was the forth and
next victim after his leap and failed to report it (and in the end Sam
do not save the girl).
Al must be in
contact with the things he wants
Sam to see. As soon as
he releases the music sheet on the piano, it just disappears.
This
is the first episode which proves that Sam's mind and body leap
together (i.e. he doesn't leap into other people's bodies), as the
leapee is a blind man but when Sam leaps in, he can still see. This
trait will again come in handy in the episode "Nowhere to Run."
Sam Trivia:
Sam played the piano at Carnegie Hall when he was 19, i.e. in 1972.
Therefore, technically, this is his very first time in the place!
However, due to his Swiss cheese memory, he does not remember he can
play.
Sam has a
photographic memory.
Al Trivia:
Al guides Sam in Central Park as he did in Disco Inferno when Sam
rescues Chris in the smoke after the blast on the set.
Striped white
shirt, burgundy vest with silver
ornament, matching
pants.
White tux and tie.
Al's
Women:
Al once knew a
girl named Evita Evilatita, a
pianist from Tijuana who
played the piano with her toes and…. other parts of her anatomy. She
could also sing the national anthem in 40 different languages.
He bought himself a
long-haired wig to impress
women just after the
Ed Sullivan Show starring the Beatles aired.
Kiss with history:
February 7th, 1964 - The Beatles arrived at JFK airport in New York
February 9th, 1964
- The Beatles performed on 'The
Ed Sullivan Show'
for the first time.
Miscellaneous Trivia:
You can spot the Twin Towers in the first shot just before the title
shows. However, at the time of the leap, the towers had not yet been
built.
From the front
page of the Daily Star, there are
already three
victims on the day Sam leaps.
Andrew's apartment
is 2D.
The LP Sam listens
to is called "Andrew Ross,
live from Carnegie
Hall".
Pete has a horse
named Daisy.
Chopin, Andrew's
dog, saves Sam from a car
accident.
The blend of dog
food Chopin eats is called
"Bark'O Bites"
Andrew's French
neighbour has 2 dogs: Napoléon
& Joséphine (a
white West-Highland terrier and a Schnauzer).
Sam calls out
Michelle in front of the hotel. At
the same time came
the Beatles. On December 3rd, 1965, the L.P. "Rubber Soul" will be
released in the UK (including the song "Michelle").
A fan waves a "I
want to hold your hand" sign in
the screaming crowd
(the Beatles scored their first No. 1 U.S. hit six days before with
that song)
Number of times Sam leered after a woman:
Once! (over his glasses after the French woman next door who walks
her dogs)
Regular Cast:
Scott Bakula as Sam Beckett
Dean Stockwell as Al, the observer
Guest Stars: Cynthia Bain as Michelle Stevens
Jennifer Rhodes as Agnes Stevens
Kevin Skousen as Peter O'Shannon
Judy Kain as Waitress
Hilla Moll as French Woman
Sloan Fischer as Stage Manager
Cynthia Mann as Girl
Bill Burdin as Andrew Ross (Mirror image)
Cynthia Bain as Michelle Stevens: Cynthia
Bain was born in Walnut Creek, California, USA. She is an actress and
producer, known for Pumpkinhead (1988), Spontaneous Combustion (1989)
and Knots Landing (1979). Became a professional actor at age 14. Runs
Cynthia Bain's Young Actor Studio in Studio City, California. Graduate
of UCLA in 1993 with a B.A. in Theater Arts.
Jennifer Rhodes as Agnes Stevens: From
Rosiclare, IL to Summer Stock, to studying in New York and a little
Off-Broadway, I made the move to L.A. where I did a lot of theatre and
have been Guest-Starring on TV shows for many years. I'm probably best
known for playing Winona Ryder's mom in "Heathers", recurring for 8
years as "Grams" on "Charmed" and a horror film I don't wish to
discuss. I'm at that stage in my career where people say, "Haven't we
met before?" or "There's What's-Her-Name".
Kevin Skousen as Peter O'Shannon: Kevin
Skousen was born on October 8, 1959 in Long Beach, California, USA. He
is an actor, known for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992), MacGruber
(2010) and Quantum Leap (1989).
Judy Kain as Waitress: Judy
was born in San Mateo, California, and began her professional acting
career in Los Angeles in 1978. She has been in over 400 commercials,
and 150 TV and film projects. She has won numerous awards for coaching
and teaching at her own studio Keep it Real Acting Studios in addition
to awards for her performance in MAD MEN gleaning the SAG AWARD for the
Show. She travels all over the country teaching and inspiring actors
with her vast knowledge and experience.
Judy is also a published author of the Commercial Handbook called "I
Booked It!" She also has a new book and online course entitled THE
BUSINESS OF ACTING. She has done numerous seminars sharing her vast
experience. Also, Judy hosts the Podcast HOLLYWOOD GAME CHANGERS
@keepitrealacting/HGC. Being an avid Hiker, she wrote a book about her
hikes all over the world called LIFE IS LIKE A HIKE...the best view
comes after the Hardest climb. Her son Frankie Manes is also an actor.
Sloan Fischer as Stage Manager: Sloan
Fischer was born on November 26, 1956 in New York, USA. He was an
actor, known for Quantum Leap (1989), Rockula (1990) and Mistral's
Daughter (1984). He died on August 28, 1995 in San Francisco,
California.
Cynthia Mann as Girl: Cynthia
Mann was born on August 17, 1964 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She
is an actress, known for Friends (1994), Quantum Leap (1989) and Girls
Just Want to Have Fun (1985). She is married to Michael Jamin.
Say What? Why does Al let Sam freak out about the next concert and does
not
tell him he can play the piano since he is determined to give him some
help eventually?
The
episode title card shows the completed World Trade Center towers. The
episode takes place 4 years before construction of the World Trade
Center started and 7 years before towers 1 and 2 were completed.
Al's reflection is
all over the place during the concert (on the
floor, on Andrew's glasses, on the piano…)
Sam cannot come up
with any satisfactory explanation when Mrs Stevens
catches him reading the dog food box. Even if he does not remember his
education (and his several doctorates), he could pretend putting up an
ad act for Chopin's benefit. Anyway, what does he have to be afraid of?
The public would most likely believe him over a hysterical middle-aged
woman. Andrew has probably already gone through all the physicals and
is truly blind.
Why didn't Ziggy
let Sam know to stop the killing of the French dog-walker?
Michelle puts Sam's gloved
finger on his braille watch for him to
read time (there is even a close-up to emphasize her move!).
When somebody's
life is at stake, do you lose precious seconds
looking for glasses you don't even need in the first place?
Would a trained
dog as Chopin will respond to orders other
than Andrew's?
Michelle's purse
appears magically in her hands at the end. Sam left
it behind on the way though.
The same people
attend the two concerts (see the green dressed woman
and the oriental man in the front).
Quotable Quotes:
I couldn't
play Chopsticks in Chinatown.
-- Al, "Blind Faith"
She sounds just like the Wicked Witch of the East! Or is that the
Wicked Witch of the West?
-- Al, about the girlfriend's mother, "Blind Faith"
The chances of you having stage fright are about as likely as ...as
...a B-movie actor becoming President.
Stranger things have happened.
-- Michelle and Sam, "Blind Faith"
Your mother is afraid of cats.
-- Al to Chopin, "Blind Faith"
This dog eats better than I do!
This dog works harder than you do.
-- Al and Sam, "Blind Faith"
Couldn't you at least spit out the shells?
-- Sam to Chopin, "Blind Faith"
All you need now is some sequins and a candelabra.
-- Al, "Blind Faith"
Sometimes I feel like I'm a scientist in the middle of an experiment
that no one else believes in.
-- Sam, "Blind Faith"
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a sense of smell *that* sensitive?
Not with my husband's feet, no.
-- Michelle and Waitress, "Blind Faith"
Best Scene:
Definitely the very beginning when Sam leaps in and plays Chopsticks -
and all the scenes where he interacts with the dog.
Production Credits:
Music by: Mike Post Supervising Producers: Deborah Pratt, Paul M. Belous, Robert Wolterstorff Co-producers: Paul Brown, Jeff Gourson, Chris Ruppenthal Produced by: Harker Wade Created by: Donald P. Bellisario Written by:Scott Shepherd Directed by: David G. Phinney
Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario Associate Producers:David Bellisario Director of Photography: Michael Watkins Production Designer: Cameron Birnie Edited by: N. Mario Di Gregorio Unit Production Manager: Ron Grow First Assistant Director: Ryan Gordon Second Assistant Director: Rob Mendel Casting by: Ellen Lubin Sanitsky Set Director: Robert L. Zilliox Costume Designer: Jean-Pierre Dorleac Costume Supervisors: David Rawley & Donna Roberts-Orme Sound Mixer: Mark Hopkins McNabb Stunt Coordinator: Diamond Farnsworth Sound Editor: Paul Clay Music Editor: Tom Gleason
Panaflex ® Camera and Lenses by: Panavision ®
This
motion picture is protected under laws of the United States and other
countries. Unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition may
result in civil liability and criminal prosecution.
The
characters and events depicted in this photoplay are fictitious. Any
similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Bellisarius Productions and Universal, an MCA Company
Podcasts:
Quantum Leap Podcast
In
the thirteenth installment of The Quantum Leap Podcast, Albie and
Heather discuss Season two episode five “Blind Faith”. There’s first
impressions, an episode recap, thoughts and opinions, listener
feedback, a segment by Hayden McQueenie, and an fun interview
with Jennifer Rhodes who played Agnes Stevens, Michelle’s mom in Blind
Faith.
Let
us know what you think… Leave us a voicemail by calling (707)847-6682
and Send in your thoughts, theories and feedback, Send MP3s & Email
to quantumleappodcast@gmail.com. Also join us on
Facebook.com/QuantumLeapPodcast and Twitter.com/QuantumLeapPod
Quantum Leap Podcast: Revisiting Blind Faith
Brush up on your chopsticks, because we’re Revisiting Blind Faith!
Join hosts Allison Pregler, Christopher DeFilippis and Matt Dale for
one last time as we present Matt’s final show, examining Sam’s Leap as
a blind concert pianist who must save a young woman from being murdered
and – worse – from her overbearing mother.
We also bring you an encore of our interview with said overbearing
mother, guest start Jennifer Rhodes! Albie speaks with Jennifer about
her time on Quantum Leap.
We also present the thoughts and well-wishes of listeners responding to
the loss of our friend Matt. Thank you all for your outpouring of love
and support. And stay tuned for news of a Leap Day Special honoring
Matt’s memory, and featuring the cast of Quantum Leap.
Tell us what you think! Leave us a voicemail by calling (707) 847-6682. Send feedback and MP3s to quantumleappodcast@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Or drop us a line at Quantum Leap Podcast, P.O. Box 542, Bayport, NY 11705.
