3x21 "Nuclear Family"

Leap Date:

October 26, 1962

Episode adopted by: MikeKraken (2004) & Stacie Wilcox (2024)
Additional info provided by: Brian Greene

Synopsis:

In the body of a bomb shelter salesman during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Sam has to stop the killing of a neighbor during an air raid alarm which results in the conviction of his brother.

Audio from this episode

TV Guide Synopsis
Place
Leap Date
Name of the Person Leaped Into
Broadcast Date
Synopsis & Review
Music
Project Trivia
Al Trivia
Al's Outfits Worn in the Episode
Miscellaneous Trivia
Kiss with History
Guest Stars
Guest Cast Notes
Say What?
Quotable Quotes
Best Scene
Production Credits
Podcasts

Production # 66426

TV Guide Synopsis:
Sam must prevent a fateful killing when he falls into the brother of a fallout-shelter salesman (Timothy Carhart), whose family's tensions escalate during the Cuban missile crisis. Burt: Kurt Fuller. Kate: Kim Flowers. Stevie: Robert Hy Gorman. Sam: Scott Bakula.

Place:
Homestead, Florida

Leap Date:
October 26, 1962

Name of the Person Leaped Into:
Eddie Ellroy, a junior student at Oklahoma State, currently working for his older brother selling bomb shelters to make extra money.

Broadcast Date:
May 15, 1991 - Wednesday

Synopsis & Review:

Sam leaps into an air raid drill. A family is wearing gas masks and crawling. The other man tells him to duck and cover. It’s WWIII!  Sam puts on his mask and cowers to the ground.  Oh boy!

Sam leaps into Eddie Elroy in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Sam was very young at the time and cannot understand everyone's panic that the Russians are going to kill them all. Al remembers that time very well (he flew missions during that time) and tries to explain it but it is something that had to be lived through to be understood.

The little girl calls out to Sam, who turns out to be the name of the dog.  Sam looks in the mirror at his host Eddie, a college kid.  The family emerges from the fallout shelter.  The dog emerges followed by the mom.

Mac tells Sam he’ll be safe from the fallout, along with everyone else who was smart enough to buy an Ellroy Super Deluxe Shelter from them.

We meet the neighbor, Burt The Turtle, whose wife left him for the pool man a couple of years ago.  Mac introduced Burt to his brother Eddie (Sam), who is town to make some money during his school break to see shelters.  We find out it's the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Mac has been trying to sell Burt one for years, and finally agrees to check it out. Mac has Sam give the VIP tour.

Sam stumbles through the presentation, and we get an overview of the shelter, complete with all necessary supplies.to “Survive in Style”  It normally sells for $3k but Mac offers Burt a VIP 20% off discount since he is a neighbor, making the cost $2,400.  Mac says he has 10 crews out right now, can have his yard dug tomorrow and the whole thing done by Wednesday. 

Al joins Sam, and after aligning himself to the right height of the shelter, he tells Sam that he is a Junior at Oklahoma State, who lost his basketball scholarship after hurting his knee.  Sam doesn’t like the idea of selling shelters knowing that an attack isn’t coming. He says all he remembers about the Cuban Missile crisis when he was 8 years old was that his mom was canning foods like crazy. Not being near a big city, it didn’t seem so scary.  Al says he was flying reconnaissance flights over Cuba, and Sam doesn’t realize how close they came to WWIII.

He tells Sam another kind of bomb goes off in this backyard.  There is a 99% chance that Sam is here to keep the neighbor Burt from getting shot and killed.  A news report says that Mac shoots him tomorrow night when he tries to break into the Elroy family shelter.  Mac gets 20 years and Kate and the kids lose everything.

We see the kids talking. Kimberly wants to know why the Russians want to kill them.  Stevie says he and uncle Eddie will protect her. He seems eager to fight the Russians. Sam explains that the Russians are just like them. They have families and kids and dogs just like them.  They don’t want to kill them. Mac joins the conversation, asking why then they are building a nuclear missile depot less than 200 miles from their backyard.

The family watches Mister Ed on tv (this is actually the 1st episode of the series, which really aired Jan 5th 1961). It is interrupted by a special bulletin, updating the activity happening with ships at Cuba.  Mac puts the kids to bed.

Sam and Mac discuss the situation. Sam asks Mac about the gun, Mac says its locked up and he has the only key.  Sam specifically asks Mac about protecting from neighbors.  He then tells Mac that an actual atomic war would cause a nuclear winter and everything would die.  Mac says it would be just like how they survived the dust bowl in 1935.

Sam wakes up during the night to the sound of Stevie opening the sliding glass doors. He says he can’t sleep, wondering how far 200 miles is.  Sam gives Stevie a talk and tells him there’s not going to be a war.  He tells him to imagine he’s in the future, looking back on this as a memory, and can see that the Russians never hurt him or his family, and he spent a lot of energy being afraid of something that never happened.  He convinces Stevie not to be scared anymore and sends him back to bed.

The next morning during breakfast, the kids are watching the Woody Woodpecker short “Prehistoric Super Salesman” and gives us a shot of a “time tunnel” which references both time travel and looks a lot like a bomb shelter entrance.

It’s interrupted by another special bulletin; the pentagon has revealed the identity of of a U2 Pilot that was shot down yesterday, as being Major Rudolph Anderson Jr.

Mrs. Klingman comes to discuss a shelter.  Sam gives her a tour.  She says that her and her husband don’t need such a big space, she only has the money from his pension and what she makes teaching piano.  Sam tells her it's ok, they aren’t going to attack.  She has a bit of a breakdown, and Sam notices her tattoo. (The tattoo indicates she was imprisoned in Dachau(  She thinks no one will survive this time, so Sam asks her why waste her money on a shelter.  Al comes and tells Sam he is a real Mensch.

Mac is irritated that Sam didn’t sell Mrs. Klingman a shelter. He calls Sam “Little Brother” but not said in a loving way this time. The news tells us events are escalating.

Burt tells Sam that things are nuts out there. The stores are empty. He says it's really going to happen.  He gives Sam a check for $2400 for his shelter. (Dated Oct 26th).  Mac has forgiven Sam for losing Mrs. Klingman because apparently he sold the unsellable Burt - and earned himself a $120 commission (5%) (This time the “Little Brother” is happier).

Inside, the kids are watching and singing along to Duck and Cover.  Sam unloads the Riffle and tries to take all of the ammo out of the shelter. Kate and the kids are just outside the hatch, so he puts it in the first aid kit instead.  Back inside, Mac is looking for his keys that Sam took to access the gun. Sam manages to slip them back to him without suspicion.

Stevie tries explaining the future things to Kimberly like Sam told him. Sam tries to comfort her as well, but in the end all Kimberly gets out of the conversation is that Sam is calling her daddy a liar. Kate is making her fairy princess halloween costume.  Kate tells Sam she’s never been so scared in her whole life.

Sam buries the shotgun shells in the backyard.  Al sneaks up on him. (We get foreshadowing here, hearing the dog barking in the background.  I’m sure you could have found a better hiding place than buried in the yard… maybe hidden in Eddie’s clothes?).  Sam and Al discuss Duck and Cover. Sam seems upset by the whole notion of the video, giving kids a false sense of hope that they could survive a nuclear war. Al says it gave the kids something to do other than just be scared.  Mac sees Sam talking to himself.  Al says Burt still gets shot, Sam hasn’t changed anything.

Mac confronts him about calling him a liar.  They are interrupted by the fact that Sam the dog is chewing on the shotgun shells.Sam gets the kids out of the room then lures the last shell away from the dog with a rubber mouse. Mac realizes Sam stole his keys and the shells, and throws him out of the house.  They argue for an hour.

The kids are awaying TV. A huge flock of birds flies outside, just like how Mac described what happened on the day of the Dust Bowl.  Another news bulletin comes on the TV - Kennedy giving a statement that “there has been a great deal of talk” - and then the power goes out. The air raid sirens go off.  The family heads to the shelter.  Sam tries convincing them it's just just another drill (I don’t know if that was the smartest course of action).  Sam the dog is nowhere in sight, and the kids are so upset that he isn’t in the shelter.  Kate gets the kids settled while Sam argues with Mac.  Burt pounds on the shelter door, wanting to be let in.  Mac loads the rifle and shoots up the hatch (not hitting Burt).

Sam fights with Mac for the gun.  Meanwhile, Stevie takes a pistol out of hiding and goes up the emergency ladder at the back of the shelter.  He tells his sister he’s going to stop the Russians.  He has a hallucination seeing Burt as a Russian soldier instead.  Al tells Sam that Burt was shot with a 38, not a rifle (ummm where was this information earlier when we first talked about the shooting???)  He centers on Stevie, and Sam tells the parents that Stevie is up there with the 38.  Sam tries to talk Stevie down. He has Burt put down the shovel that he is holding. He tells Stevie to Duck and Cover, which the boy has been conditioned to respond to, so he complies and Sam gets the gun away from him.  Al connects the dots that it was Stevie who shot Burt all along, and Mac took the blame.

We see another news broadcast of Kennedy disclosing that the missiles are being dismantled in Cuba (this broadcast didn’t actually happen until Nov 2nd). Mac tells the kids its over, no more bombs, no more Russians, nothing to be scared of anymore.  He tells Sam he was right, about a lot of things.  Burt called and canceled his check.  That makes 5 cancellations today.  Mac doesnt know what to do, he already has crews and bulldozers.  Sam suggests they put in swimming pools, sell fun instead of fear.  Al says he changed history. They build the biggest swimming pool company in south florida. Sam leaps… Synopsis by Stacie Wilcox

Personal Review by MikeKraken:

I would have to say this is one of Sam's easier leaps. Simple mission: stop Bert from getting shot, which Ziggy gave a 99% probability. The only real obsticle was keeping the kids from being so scared and Mac happy with Eddie's salesmanship. It's a pretty good episode that delves into the psyche of the people at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Very intruiging!

Music:
Theme by Mike Post
Score by Velton Ray Bunch

Project Trivia:
Handlink: Colored Cubes / Gummy Bear

Al Trivia:
Al flew reconnaisance flights over Cuba during the crisis in a F-4 Phantom Escort, in the squadron that went in right after a U2 was shot down while photographing missile bases.

Al's Outfits Worn in the Episode:
First appearance: White dress coat and pants; white shoes, orange dress shirt; zebra-striped tie; some kind of circular pin on the right breast of his coat; lit cigar. Appears and leaves through the Imaging Chamber Door.

Second, third, and fourth appearance: Multi-coloured scaly purple and silver dress coat; wide, gold belt; white dress shirt; gray pants; black-and-white-striped tie; black shoes; cigar. (no Imaging Chamber Door)

Fifth appearance: Light brown vest; patterend orange dress shirt; gold tie; same pin from before, but on left breast; unlit cigar. (no Imaging Chamber Door)

Miscellaneous Trivia:
While "Duck and Cover" may seem futile during an atomic blast, doing it further away from the blast could protect you from being impaled by flying pieces of bursting windows and debris. Good advice!

A sketch of the bomb shelter is included in "The Complete Quantum Leap Book."

Kiss With History:
This episode takes place during the final days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a situation that occurred between Russia and the United States October 16-28, 1962.

Regular Cast:
Scott Bakula as Sam Beckett
Dean Stockwell as Al Calavicci

Guest Stars:
Timothy Carhart as Mac Ellroy
Kurt Fuller as Burt "The Turtle" Rosencranz
Kim Flowers as Kate Ellroy
Robert Hy Gorman as Stevie Ellroy
Candace Hutson (as Candy Hutson) as Kimberly Ellroy
Delia Salvi as Mrs. Klingman
Celia Lovsky as Piano Teacher
Patrick M. Bruneau as Eddie (Mirror image)

Guest Cast Notes:

Timothy Carhart as Mac Ellroy: Blonde, blue-eyed character actor who has worked on stage, film, and TV for the past 30 years. Born in Washington D.C., Carhart had a globetrotting childhood in Turkey and France before returning to the U.S. and studying theater. Carhart had some success on and off-Broadway and then moved on to small roles in such major films as Ghostbusters (1984), Witness (1985) and Working Girl (1988). He played Harlen who attempted to rape Geena Davis's character in Thelma & Louise (1991), and also had roles in the The Hunt for Red October (1990), Red Rock West (1993) and Air Force One (1997). Carhart has had many guest spots on television shows including a memorable guest turn as a police officer whose testimony against a murderer may reveal the sexuality he has tried to keep secret on The Practice (1997), and as a fat-sucking vampire on The X-Files (1993). He played Eddie Willows in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000), the ex-husband of star Marg Helgenberger. He is, (...as of 2017) a recurring character on The Paramount Network series, Yellowstone, playing the Attorney General Stewart and starring Kevin Costner.

Kurt Fuller as Burt "The Turtle" Rosencranz: Born in San Francisco and raised in the agricultural heartland of California's San Joaquin Valley, Fuller became passionate about acting while attending UC Berkley, where he received a degree in English literature. After graduating, he made the move to Los Angeles with everything he owned stuffed into the back seat of a Dodge Dart (including a king size foam rubber mattress). For the next ten years he was a Realtor by day and a stage actor by night. Then, in 1986, he created the leading role in Steven Berkhoff's explosively successful "Kvetch", earning rave reviews on both coasts.  Fuller has gone on to have a very successful career, working with some of Hollywood's best directors, including David O. Russell, Tony Scott, Harold Ramis, and Ivan Reitman, among others. His numerous film credits include "Auto Focus," "Ray," "Pushing Tin," "The Jack Bull," "Ghostbusters II," "Mr. Woodcock," "Nailed" and "The Pursuit of Happyness." Kurt still returns to the stage occasionally, most recently in the acclaimed "Greedy" for Red Dog squadron. He's also worked at the La Jolla Playhouse and the Mark Taper Forum. He is married to Jessica Hendra, a published author. They have two daughters, Julia and Charlotte. His birthday is September 16.

Kim Flowers as Kate Ellroy: Kim Flowers is known for Alien Resurrection (1997), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) and Clear and Present Danger (1994).

Robert Hy Gorman as Stevie Ellroy: Robert Hy Gorman was born on April 3, 1980 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991), Leprechaun (1992) and Forever Young (1992).

Candace Hutson (as Candy Hutson) as Kimberly Ellroy: Candace Hutson was born on May 3, 1980 in Savannah, Georgia, USA. She is an actress, known for The Land Before Time (1988), Dolly Dearest (1991) and Evening Shade (1990).

Delia Salvi as Mrs. Klingman: Delia Salvi was born on October 17, 1927 in Naples, Italy. She was an actress, known for Fatso (1980), Quantum Leap (1989) and Shadow Play (1986). She died on March 1, 2015 in California, USA.

Say What?
The actual leap date is October 26 and lasts a couple of days. However, the Presidential address seen on the TV was from November 2nd. Sam apparently stuck around a few extra days simply to give Mac the idea to sell swimming pools? Similarly, the Presidential address shown before the blackout was from September 13th.

Kate speaks without moving her lips in one shot near the beginning.

Mac says he's been trying to sell Burt a shelter for three years. A few moments later, he says it's been two years.

Sam states he was eight years old during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but he was actually nine years old.

The "Mr. Ed" episode seen on TV was actually aired in January of 1961. It was the first episode.

The Woody Woodpecker cartoon was from 1969, seven years after the setting of this episode.

We see a full moon in the sky, but in reality on Oct 26, 1962 we would have had a waning crescent, with barely any moon visible.

Oct 26th was a Friday.

During breakfast, the kids are watching the Woody Woodpecker short “Prehistoric Super Salesman”, which didn’t actually come out until 7 years later on Sep 1, 1969, but it gives us a shot of a “time tunnel” which references both time travel and looks a lot like a bomb shelter entrance.

Quotable Quotes:
Sam: "Then why waste your money on a shelter?"
Mrs. Klingman: "You're right! You're not much of a salesman!"

Al: "Long enough to see that you are a real mensh."
Sam: "Mensh?"
Al: "Mensh. It's means 'good guy'. It's a word that my fourth wife... third... third or fourth wife, Ruthie, used to use. She never used it about me, though."

Stevie: "Whatcha doin'?"
Sam: "Nothin'. What are you doing?"
Stevie: "Nothin'. Wanna join me?"
Sam: "Maybe later."

Al: "Annuals or perennials?" (pops up behind Sam burying shotgun shells)
Sam: "Do you have to sneak up on me?"
Al: "Well, I'm sorry, do you expect a hologram to knock?"

Al: "Oh, 'Duck and Cover', I remember that. Isn't like an air-raid show for kids to duck and..."
Sam: "Yeah, it teaches them that if they hide under a picnic blanket, it works wonders against atom bombs."

What do you expect, a hologram to knock?
-- Al, "Nuclear Family"

Survive in style!
-- Motto of Ellroy Atom Bomb Shelters, "Nuclear Family"

Best Line:
Sam: "Let's just pretend that you can travel into the future and look back at this time right now. You'll see that the Russians never hurt you or your family, and you'll see that you were spending a lot of your time and energy being afraid of something bad that never happened."

Best Scene:
Sam is giving Mrs. Klingman a tour of the bomb shelter, and what he says triggers her memory of the Holocaust.

Production Credits:

Theme by: Mike Post
Music by: Velton Ray Bunch
Co-Executive Producer: Deborah Pratt
Co-Executive Producer: Michael Zinberg
Supervising Producer: Harker Wade
Co-producers: Paul Brown, Jeff Gourson
Produced by: Chris Ruppenthal
Created by: Donald P. Bellisario
Written by: Paul Brown
Directed by: James Whitmore, Jr.

Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario
Associate Producer: James S. Giritlian
Executive Story Editor: Tommy Thompson
Director of Photography: Michael Watkins, A.S.C.
Production Designer: Cameron Birnie
Edited by: Jerry U. Frizell, A.C.E., Ken Denisoff
Unit Production Manager: Ron Grow
First Assistant Director: Ryan Gordon
Second Assistant Director: Kate Yurka
Casting by: Ellen Lubin Sanitsky
Set Director: Robert L. Zilliox
Costume Designer: Jean-Pierre Dorleac
Costume Supervisors: David Rawley & Donna Roberts-Orme
Sound Mixer: Barry D. Thomas
Stunt Coordinator: Diamond Farnsworth
Sound Editor: Paul Clay
Music Editor: Donald Woods

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.

Copyright © 1991 by Universal City Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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:

Put on your gas masks and get ready to survive in style, because it’s time for Nuclear Family!

On this episode of the Quantum Leap Podcast, hosts Allison Pregler, Matt Dale and Christopher DeFilippis duck and cover down in the fallout shelter to discuss Sam’s brush with Cold War paranoia.

Listen to The Quantum Leap Podcast on this episode here: