Matt
Dale was a superfan of Quantum Leap
and an amazing friend to leapers everywhere. He was known for his
kindness, generousity, and for his one-of-a-kind research into
everything related to the series. Several years ago, Matt approached me
about using some of the scripts from Al's Place for a new book he was
developing. As they were donated
to us, the answer was of course yes. He gave us permission to use
script entries from his in-depth and must-have book series. Please
consider purchasing a copy - this is the best Quantum Leap resource you
will ever find. Details are in the boxes below.
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Beyond the
Mirror Image
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Three-Volume Collection
The
Observer's Guide
to Quantum Leap
by Matt Dale
Visit the Official
Site
to
purchase!
The definitive
guide to
Quantum Leap from 1989 to Present. Every Quantum Leap fan needs these books!
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Volume
1:
The Original Series |
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Join Sam Beckett as he leaps through time putting
right
what
once went wrong, with this indispensable armchair guide to the series
from researcher Matt Dale, co-host of the Quantum Leap Podcast and
author of the acclaimed 2016 edition of this guide, massively updated
and revised here.
Featuring interviews with over 100 key
personnel from the show, this
episode-by-episode look through the series highlights important themes
and will take you behind-the-scenes of this classic series like never
before.
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Volume 2:
The Revival
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Join Ben Song on a
journey
through the first season of this groundbreaking relaunch, from the
author of Beyond the Mirror Image, the acclaimed guide to the original
series of Quantum Leap, and co-host of The Quantum Leap Podcast, Matt
Dale.
Featuring interviews with
dozens of the key people involved, along with analayses and in-depth
guides, this celebration of the new series of Quantum Leap is
accompanied by details of the relaunches that never were: A Bold Leap
Forward, Time Child, and more…
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Volume 3:
Appendices |
With a thoroughness
and
bredth that exceeds Ziggy herself, Volume Three of the Beyond the
Mirror Image trilogy takes you to all the unexplored corners of the
Quantum Leap Universe.
In-depth coverage of the official novels and
comics, a
complete chronology of the fictional QLverse, an exhaustive merchandise
guide, and dozens of other essays & features make up this must-have
conclusion to the BTMI series.
Written by Matt Dale, acclaimed researcher and
author of
the first two books in the series, and co-host of The Quantum Leap
Podcast, this is a leap you won’t want to miss…
Author
and
friend Matt Dale
died suddenly in December 2023, whilst writing and planning the
contents for Volume Three of his book series.
In
his absence, there’s a
small team
of his friends who are going to take a look at the drafts he shared and
see whether they can fulfil his vision and complete the trilogy.
There’s no timeline for this yet, but you can register your interest by
emailing qlbtmi@gmail.com,
or keeping an eye on the Facebook
page and X/Twitter
account for the original edition, as well as checking back here
for updates.
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Synopsis:
PLOT SYNOPSIS BY ROBERT WOLTERSTORFF
THE DRIVER
JULY 1, 1955
Sam
leaps in, finding himself behind the wheel of a speeding ‘49
Ford, driving around an empty dirt track. Three teenagers watch
him: Lenny, Bump and Nadine, all of whom are concerned about
him making the next turn. They’re right to worry, as Sam crashes
the car straight through a wooden barrier. The small crowd rush
towards him and, finding him alive, Nadine showers him with
kisses. Lenny warns him he’s never going to get into NASCAR
with those driving skills. Oh boy...
Nadine recalls the recent death of James Dean, which places the
date as 1955, and Lenny gives him his name: “Fireball” Danny
Roberts. Nadine is starting to get very concerned about the next
race, but Lenny tells her to mind her own business. Sam attempts
to calm them both down and assures Lenny he will race again. But
Bump gives them the bad news that the driveshaft was damaged
during the crash and has to be towed to the garage.
On the way to the garage, Lenny pressurises Bump to ensure the
car is roadworthy for the next day, and threatens to fire him. Bump
reminds him that they’re partners, but Lenny says “as partners, we
decided that I’m the crew boss and you’re the crew, right?” Bump
is fairly sure he can get the Ford working again.
Meanwhile, sitting in the towed Ford Nadine tells Sam how
worried she is, and Sam confesses he is a little concerned too.
She kisses him, and turns the conversation to him meeting her
parents later that night. He has to make a good impression.
They drop Nadine off at her home, where she finds Randy Butler -
her ex-boyfriend just returned from college, who Nadine’s mother
is clearly enamoured with. Nadine tells Randy about her new
relationship with Danny, and he storms off.
Back in the Ford, Al finally arrives. He sympathises for the smalltown
folk who live and die here, and admits Ziggy doesn’t have a
clear idea on what Sam’s mission is. Sam believes it’s something
to do with the NASCAR race, and Al leaves to find out more
information.
The guys arrive at the garage, and Lenny and Bump dream about
becoming a prize-winning driving team when a customer arrives.
Sam is given the task of pumping his gas... but it’s Randy. Itching
for a fight, he tries to threaten him. Al arrives back and warns him
not to get into a confrontation with Randy, as he now knows why
Sam is there: In the original history Randy blinded Danny in one
eye, preventing Danny from ever racing again and ensuring that
Danny, Lenny and Bump lived out their days in the same small
town. Knowing this, Sam backs down, much to the confusion of
Bump and Lenny, and Randy drives away.
Al gives Sam some more background on Randy, explaining that
most of the town works for his father, so he’s a typical spoiled
brat. Al begins to reminisce about the time he got into a fight over
a girl, whose number he still has, and exits to find it...
Later that night, Sam sits uncomfortably with Nadine’s family for
dinner. Nadine’s father expresses disapproval with Sam/Danny’s
plans to race for a living, and her mother reminds her about “nice”
Randy Butler. Nadine becomes angry at her parents for trying to
push her into a relationship with him, and leaves. Sam follows, and
they have an emotional cuddle. Nadine’s father joins them, and
sends Nadine in to help with the dishes. When alone with Sam, he
warns him to stay away from his daughter and enters the house,
slamming the door behind him. Al’s voice can be heard saying
“further proof that anyone can have a child, but not everyone can
be a parent.” Sam is confused - why are Nadine’s parents so
supportive of Randy? It transpires that her father works for
Randy’s father, although there may also be an element that he
genuinely believes he’s doing what’s best for his daughter.
Al leaves again, just as Lenny collects Sam to get the new
driveshaft. The two, and Bump, drive to an auto graveyard. Much
to Sam’s dismay, they are going to steal a part. Despite a
confrontation with a guard dog, they are successful, and the three
return to the pit so Bump can fit it.
A little later, the three jump into a river to clean the grease off
them. Lenny shares the pressures he’s putting himself under - he
can’t wind up like his father, working in the mill and drinking. Sam
becomes determined to win NASCAR. Meanwhile, Randy Butler
has found their clothes and sets them on fire...
A little later, the guys are driving in the nude, cursing Randy. Just
as they think things can’t get any worse, their tyre blows out. Sam
gets out to change it, and is confronted by a constable.
Meanwhile, outside Nadine’s house, Randy pulls up next to the
young woman and offers her a ride to the race, which he too has
entered. She declines, which he mocks her for, and starts
walking. He drives alongside her until eventually she reluctantly
gets into the car.
A police car, carrying the three boys under a blanket, approaches
the garage. They rush out, and start the car, speeding to the race.
When they arrive, Sam apologises to Nadine for his tardiness and
goes to prepare. Al joins Sam in his car, and the race begins. He
talks Sam around the track and, despite some worrying moments,
Sam qualities for the Tri-State 200. Randy, however, wins the
race overall, which the local community celebrates.
Randy tries to leave the racetrack with Nadine, but Sam steps in.
Randy tries to physically drag her away, so Sam intervenes and
the two get into a fight. Randy takes a bottle and smashes it over
Sam’s head, leaving him bleeding in a heap on the ground.
A little later Sam is tended to by Doc Handy, who warns him that
he almost lost his eye, but reassures him that his sight will be fine
in a couple of days. Lenny is concerned as the Tri-State race is
just a day away and Nadine tries to talk him out of racing, fearing
that he’ll lose. Sam knows he can’t. At Nadine’s house, her father
has another confrontation with Sam, demanding he stay away
from her. Sam tells him how much he cares about her, and leaves.
Later, while Lenny and Bump work on the Ford, Sam and Al talk.
Ziggy is uncertain what Sam’s goal is now, and why he hasn’t
leaped. It may be that he still has to win the race for Danny.
The following day, the team wait at the race track, preparing for
the Tri-State 200. Sam notices that Nadine and her parents are
watching. He gets the car into position, and the race begins. Once
again, Al is sat with him, guiding him around the track and giving
him pointers (Ziggy tries to help, but his mathematical tips just
seem to confuse Sam and Al more). Eventually, Sam catches up
with Randy, who starts to play dirty, slamming his Chevy into the
side of Sam’s Ford. Sam is able to take the lead, though, and
when Randy tries to catch up, goes into a spin and leaves the
race. Sam wins!
Nadine congratulates him, and even her father seems to approve
of him now, apologising to Nadine for the way he treated her.
Lenny and Bump celebrate - they’re going to NASCAR! Sam,
however, isn’t. He takes the trophy, and is covered by a blinding
blue light as he leaps out... |
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Say What?
Nadine recalls James Dean’s death, which
happened on September 30th, three months after
this story.
Lenny says that Buddy Baker made $29,000 on
the circuit “last year”. In 1955, Buddy Baker was
only 14, and he would not begin his career until
1959.
The Great Pretender is suggested as background
music; it was released in November 1955, several
months after the episode. This might not be a
large goof as the characters do not seem to be
aware of it playing.
Uh Oh, I’m Falling in Love, Again however,
definitely is problematic, as this is playing on the
radio three years before its release in 1958.
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