Leap Date:
June 25, 1957

Teaser:

Sam leaps into Al as a young navy pilot facing charges of raping and murdering a Commander's wife. In the original history, a married nurse named Lisa Sherman told the Navy that she and Al were together...so Al never went to trial. But Sam accidentally tells Lisa not to testify and she dies in a car wreck later that night. As the odds rise that Al will be convicted and sent to the gas chamber, Sam, Future Al, and even a guy named Edward must work to prove his innocence.

Audio from this episode:

St. John: Alpha gives that a 62% probability.

TV Guide Teaser:

Sam (Scott Bakula) leaps into Al (Dean Stockwell) as a young navy flyboy. Riker: Charles Rocket. Edward St. John: Roddy McDowall. Lisa: Terry Farrell.

Place:

San Diego Naval Air Station, California

Broadcast Date:

May 20, 1992 - Wednesday

Synopsis & Review:

In A Leap For Lisa, the final episode of Season 4, Sam leaps in to find himself on a beach with a beautiful naked woman emerging from the ocean kissing him. He quickly realizes this is a dream when he wakes up. Sam's host is a Navy ensign nicknamed "Bingo" (played by Jamie Walters). Bingo is currently under guard as a suspect in the rape & murder of Marci Riker (Debbie James), a superior officer's wife. He has an alibi though; on the night of the murder, he was with his girlfriend, Lieutenant Lisa Sherman (guest star Terry Farrell), a nurse also stationed on the naval base.

Lisa is eager to prove Bingo's innocence, but doing so could ruin their careers, as she is married. Sam assumes that he is there to prevent that, and discourages Lisa from telling anyone about the alibi. He is confident he will find some other way to prove his innocence.

After an unusually extended absence, Al finally arrives, and reveals that "Bingo" is actually a younger version of himself; Al accounts for his delayed appearance by explaining that he had been thrilled to encounter his younger self in the Waiting Room.

At first, Al and Sam are both highly amused by the synchronicity of the leap, but when Al learns of the date, he is too late to prevent Lisa from dying in a car accident. She was distraught over Al's predicament and lost control while drying away tears. Al tells Sam that in the original timeline, Lisa told Sam's appointed lawyer, Commander Hugh Dobbs (Larry Brandenburg) about being with Al at the time of Mrs. Riker's death, confirming his alibi. Dobbs planned to use it only as a last resort and when Lisa died, he convinced the Navy to drop the charges and not prosecute Al for his personal conduct; Sam has changed this accidentally as now he has no alibi for the night of the murder. Older Al isn't mad at Sam for the mistake though, because now nobody will be gossiping about Lisa over her grave.

Commander Dirk Riker (Charles Rocket), Marci's husband, and also Al's commanding officer, comes to see Sam and says that he understands that his wife loved sleeping around with the men under his command. Al's best friend, Ensign Chip Ferguson (Jeff Corbett), even informed Dobbs about this, saying that Al was the only one who ever refused her advances, because of Lisa. Riker says it didn't bother him as they both had their perversions and that left only pleasure in the marriage. He then claims that he saw Al rape and kill his wife from a cliff above the beach and promises to testify to that. Riker says that he will make it "his mission" to see Bingo - i.e. Sam - die in the gas chamber.

At the trial, Riker repeats his accounts of all that he saw of his wife's death at the beach. Dobbs questions Riker's ability to clearly identify a man of similar build and uniform from 200 feet away in the dark, but Riker is adamant. He followed Al's car after he saw his wife enter it at the officer's club. When questioned about why he did nothing to stop the attack, Riker bitterly replies "Because she deserved it". Sam thinks he's free and clear because that testimony will ruin Riker's career, likely as a coverup to him being the true killer. Dobbs doubts this saying he is certain Riker believes what he testified too, and the judges will believe it too.

At that moment, Al appears in a panic. The odds of him being executed are rising by the second! Just as it reaches 100%, Al is suddenly replaced by a more formal project observer named Edward St. John V (Roddy McDowall), an original Project Quantum Leap Head Programmer. Edward, in his upper-crust British accent, tells Sam that according to 'Alpha' (as Ziggy is now known in the changed 1999 timeline) Al was convicted and executed after 3 years in prison. Now Sam remains the only person left who knows the original timeline before young Al's, or "Bingo's" Courts Martial conviction; however, his memories of Al are quickly fading away. Edward, with "Alpha", is able to run calculations and determines the key to Al's innocence lies somewhere in his car. Sam convinces his guard to let him search it, where he finds a cigar. The moment he does, Al returns, replacing St. John, with no memory of the brief discrepancy in time or of his brief absence. Sam tells him that he didn't find anything but his cigar, but Al says he didn't begin smoking cigars until he served in Vietnam. The cigar matches those smoked by Al's best friend and wing man, "Chip" Ferguson.

Sam asks Chip to meet him in his quarters. Chip tells Sam that he dropped Al and Lisa off at a motel the night of the murder, then drove to the officer's club in Al's car. He saw Riker abusing Marci in the parking lot and gave her a ride. She was drunk and wanted someplace where she could run naked. They had slept together before, and he said he was in love with her. While Marci was undressing he came on to her, but she rebuked him. Chip tried to force himself on her, but he didn't rape her and she fell, striking her head on a rock and dying instantly. Chip is truly sorry and says he was going to turn himself in had Al been convicted. He asks what Sam plans to do and Sam says he has an idea.

Sam tells Al to talk to his younger self again, and reveal his true identity. He directs the older Al to send his younger self into the quantum leap accelerator. It will only be possible for Bingo to leap into himself, so they should calibrate the accelerator to put him as close to the night of the murder as possible. Although they are sure that most events he will not remember, old Al gives Bingo simple instructions; "Do not let Chip out of your sight on the date of the murder!". Young Al, or "Bingo", is sent back in time, but they aren't sure what date he lands at.

Sam & Al wait in Bingo's quarters, waiting for something to change. Sam gets the idea to look outside his room. The marine guard has left. They realize that a marine would never leave his post, and there must have been no death! At that moment Chip arrives with a surprise guest for Al. It is Lisa, who has gotten off work early and wants Al to buy her a drink. As he was never under suspicion of murder, she was never distraught enough to lose her control of her car. With both Marci & Lisa alive, and older Al marveling at the new timeline that's been created, Sam leaps away smiling!

Sam begins his next leap holding a rifle as a photograph is being taken, revealing that he has leapt into Lee Harvey Oswald. Source

Music:

"April Love" by Pat Boone (on the radio)

"Be Bop a Lula" by Gene Vincent

"Allegheny Moon" by Patty Page (on the radio)

The dream music was also played in "The Play’s the Thing".

Project Trivia:

Success has nothing to do with leaping. Something must have changed at the Project, since in many earlier episodes they were worried Sam wouldn't Leap unless he succeeded in his projected missions.

They had never before took a leaper into the control room before. When they describe the hybrid computer, Ziggy, it is called "She." However, when Ziggy becomes Alpha, it is called "He."

Al can't remember his time as a younger self in the Waiting Room. He can usually remember alternate timelines, however this time (presumably because it directly effects him), he is unable.

When Young Al is lept into his one-week younger self at the end, what happens to the even younger Al who is now in the Waiting Room? Are there two people in the Waiting Room now - Sam and younger Al?

Sam Trivia:

Sam begins to forget Al when he changes history and Al is replaced by another Observer.

Sam says "To quote you... I'm in deep ca-ca." Al hasn't said ca-ca since "Genesis!"

Al Trivia:

Tina (Al’s girlfriend in the present) is married to Gooshie when he is replaced by another Observer.

Al’s nickname in the Navy was Bingo.

He use to fly a cougar.

He was 23 years old in 1957, and had a black corvette. This gives us Al's birthdate: June 15, 1934. This puts him at about 65 years old in 1999.

Al is replaced (when Sam changes history) by Edward St. John V.

Al appears 11 times in this episode.

Al does not seem to recall his time in the Waiting Room as a younger man.

Al's Women:

Al was in love with a woman named Lisa.

Miscellaneous Trivia:

"Be Bop a Lula" which is played in this episode, was mentioned by Al when he stood at the jukebox in "Genesis" saying it got him through some long cold nights at M.I.T.

"Sinjin" is another pronunciation in Britain for "St. John."

Dean Stockwell's voice was dubbed for Young Al. Dean's voice, while altered with a higher pitch, sounded strange for a young man!

This is the last episode where we hear the original theme song until the series finale in season five, "Mirror Image."

In one of the original scripts, the Leap out was into Thomas Magnum, from Bellisario's television show, "Magnum, P.I." Check out a screenshot and a video test shot of Scott Bakula as Magnum!

While a Leap into Magnum, P.I. was planned, at the last minute the production team decided to change it to a Leap into Lee Harvey Oswald. The Leap sequence at the end of "A Leap for Lisa" was filmed quickly on with actress Mia Drake Inderbitzin. Later, the scene was re-shot with Natasha Pavlovich as Marina Oswald. See Mia Drake as Marina Oswald in the leap-out sequence at the bottom of the synopsis section (just before the personal review) on this page!

Regular Cast:

Scott Bakula
Dean Stockwell

Guest Stars:

Anthony Peck as Judge
Charles Rocket as Commander Dirk Riker
Jamie Walters as Albert "Bingo" Calavicci / Mirror Image
Jeffrey Corbett as "Chip" Ferguson
Larry Brandenburg as Commander Hugh Dobbs
Roddy McDowall as Edward St. John V
Terry Farell as Lieutenant Lisa Sherman
Steve Carlisle as Pollack
Jeff Nowinski as "Stacker" Carpenter
Debbie James as Marci Riker
Ivan Gueron as Plumber
Jack Stauffer as Flight Surgeon
Rich Whiteside as Marine Guard

Guest Cast Notes:

Charles Rocket as Commander Dirk Riker: Charles Rocket was born on August 28, 1949 in Bangor, Maine, USA. He was an actor, known for Dumb and Dumber (1994), Dances with Wolves (1990) and Titan A.E. (2000). He was married to Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Crellin. Charles played Judge Thatcher on Tom & Huck in 1995. In 1994, he played Nicholas Andre in Dumb & Dumber. He died on October 7, 2005 in Canterbury, Connecticut, USA.

Anthony Peck as Judge: Anthony Peck was born on March 20, 1947 in Youngstown, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for The Hunt for Red October (1990), Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) and Die Hard (1988). He was married to Francine J Tolstonog. He died on July 30, 1996 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Jamie Walters as Albert "Bingo" Calavicci / Mirror Image: Jamie is a native of Marblehead, a little town north of Boston. Besides being an actor he is also a musician and has released three solo records: "Jamie Walters" , "Ride" and "Believed". After doing a TV commercial for Levi's 501 Jeans he starred in Shout (1991) along with John Travolta. After that he went on to star in the short-lived Fox TV series The Heights (1992). His next big role and probably the one for which he is most recognized, was that of Ray Pruit on the long running TV series Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990).

Jeffrey Corbett as "Chip" Ferguson: Born on September 3, 1965 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor, known for The Little Things (2021), The Beaver (2011) and JAG (1995).

Larry Brandenburg as Commander Hugh Dobbs: Born on May 3, 1948 in Wabasha, Minnesota, USA. He is an actor, known for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), Fargo (1996) and The Untouchables (1987).

Roddy McDowall as Edward St. John V: Born in Herne Hill, London, England, to Winifriede Lucinda (Corcoran), an Irish-born aspiring actress, and Thomas Andrew McDowall, a merchant seaman. Roddy was enrolled in elocution courses at age five and by ten had appeared in his first film, Murder in the Family (1938), playing Peter Osborne, the younger brother of sisters played by Jessica Tandy and Glynis Johns. His mother brought Roddy and his sister to the U.S. at the beginning of World War II, and he soon got the part of Huw, youngest child in a family of Welsh coal miners, in John Ford's How Green Was My Valley (1941), acting alongside Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara and Donald Crisp in the film that won that year's best film Oscar. He went on to many other child roles, in films like My Friend Flicka (1943) and Lassie Come Home (1943) until, at age eighteen, he moved to New York, where he played a long series of successful stage roles, both on Broadway and in such venues as Connecticut's Stratford Festival, where he did Shakespeare. He became a U.S. citizen in 1949. In addition to making many more movies (over 150), McDowall acted in television, developed an extensive collection of movies and Hollywood memorabilia, and published five acclaimed books of his own photography. He died at his Los Angeles home, aged 70, of cancer. Roddy McDowall was the voice of Mr. Soil in "A Bugs Life" in 1998. He was a long-time friend to Dean Stockwell and provided the photo of Al that was used in "M.I.A." Watch Roddy in this funny clip with Carol Burnett:

Terry Farell as Lieutenant Lisa Sherman: Born on November 19, 1963 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At age 15, she became a foreign exchange student to Mexico, and, from that experience, she decided she would like to live a more adventurous life in the big city. She sent several photos to a modeling agency and then, at age 17, dropped out of high school and became a model in New York. She is most famously known for her role as Jadzia Dax in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), but she did have some acting experience before that. In 1992, she had the starring role in the horror movie Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992). She appeared in several television and straight-to-video movies, and also dated actors Michael Dorn and Mickey Rourke while on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993). Afterward, Paramount decided to move her to the sitcom Becker (1998), where she played the character Reggie Kostas, but, after four seasons, she was replaced by Nancy Travis. In September 2002, she married Brian Baker, better known as the cell-phone company Sprint's spokesperson, and retired soon after. They divorced in 2015.

Steve Carlisle as Pollack: Interim associate dean of Western Carolina University's Honors College, is recipient of the Man of the Year Award presented by the Abraham Kuykendall Chapter of the N.C. Society of Daughters of the American Revolution in Henderson County. Carlisle, the son of Betty and Steve Carlisle Sr. of Hendersonville, received the award in recognition of excellence in theater, television, motion pictures and radio at the chapter's meeting on September 8th. A graduate of Hendersonville High School, he graduated from Western in 1973 with a degree in speech and theatre arts. He went on to Florida Atlantic University, where he earned his master of fine arts degree in theatre in 1977. Carlisle is a member of Actors Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Theatrical and Radio Artists, and has enjoyed a career in theatre, films and television spanning more than 30 years. While living in New York, he performed off Broadway, worked with Charles Nelson Reilly and the National Shakespeare Co., and toured and performed in schools and theatres. He performed in several soap operas, including "One Life To Live," "Ryan's Hope," "Another World" and "All My Children." Among his prime time TV credits are "Rosanne," "Quantum Leap," "L.A. Law," "Evening Shade" and "Knot's Landing," while his film work includes "Dead Man Walking," "The Curse," "Fled," "Cop and a Half," "Calendar Girl" and "Air Time." He has performed with many regional union theaters, including the Burt Reynolds Theater in Jupiter, Fla., and at the Flat Rock Playhouse, where he has appeared in more than 150 professional productions over the past 24 years. He has directed numerous plays and appeared in national commercials and in instructional videos and CDs.

Jeff Nowinski as "Stacker" Carpenter: This actor and former professional athlete, was born in L.A.'s tough inner-city. He fell in love with Shakespeare and Japanese poetry as a child and seemed destined for a life in the arts, however, his precocious athletic ability soon took center stage. Raised to be a pro baseball player by his dad, and although the major league spotlight beckoned, Jeff was taken by the game of football. So it was that he won a dream scholarship at UCLA to play sports, and played football, basketball and baseball. His UCLA Football teams amazingly won three Rose Bowl championships in four years, an NCAA record. While at the university Jeff earned two degrees and thought about becoming a doctor. Upon graduating, he was scooped up by professional sports and after a cup of coffee in the NFL, Jeff was discovered by UCLA professor, Tom Orth at the age of 24 and dove into acting head first. After taking classes at his alma mater in their graduate program of Fine Arts and a summer in Europe studying theater, Jeff began making his way in Hollywood.

Debbie James as Marci Riker: A former Star Search TV series winner in 1990, Debbie was also a onetime Miss USA finalist who appeared in Bon Jovi's "Bad Medicine" music video. Debbie has made appearances in the films Where the Day Takes You (1991), 976-Evil II (1992), Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993), The Underground (1997), and Mind Rage (2004). She has also made guest appearances on numerous TV series, such as NBC-TV's Quantum Leap, Sisters, Suddenly Susan, Step by Step and Becker, as well as a recurring role as Dr. Samantha Morecroft on the short-lived 1999 TNT network aired TV series L.A. Heat. Debbie is also the founder and owner of Bella Vita Events, a company which caters and plans lavish large scale events for weddings, parties, business grand openings, as well as awards events. Based in the San Fernando Valley, California area, and Westlake Village, California, Bella Vista Events has received numerous recognitions, and has been featured in such publications Grace Ormonde, Inside Weddings, Your Wedding Day, Los Angeles Weddings, Ceremony and Santa Barbara Magazine, Deborah is a certified event specialist from Independent Wedding Consultants of America (IWCA).

Ivan Gueron as Plumber: Ivan Gueron was born on August 27, 1969. He is an actor, known for Pinocchio's Revenge (1996), Quantum Leap (1989) and Against the Grain (1993).

Jack Stauffer as Flight Surgeon: Jack Stauffer was born on December 3, 1945 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for Battlestar Galactica (1978), Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming (1999) and Quantum Leap (1989). He was previously married to Renne Jarrett.

Rich Whiteside as Marine Guard: Rich Whiteside is known for Gunmetal Group, Breeding and Quantum Leap (1989).

Guests who appeared in other Quantum Leap Episodes:

Charles Rocket played Michael G. Blake in "A Little Miracle."

Rich Whiteside played Doc in "The Leap Home: Part II: Vietnam."

Say What?

Lisa is clearly meant to be topless in the leap-in scene. However her flesh colored bikini top can be seen as she walks towards the camera and when she leans over to kiss Sam. (When aired on NBC in 1992, there were no high-definition television sets, so this was less obvious.)

One of Young Al's pins is the Combat Action award which was not created until 1969.

The song "April Moon" was not released until December 1957, so how is it playing on the radio?

In "Rebel Without a Clue" we learn that Al started at the Naval academy at Annapolis in 1958, a few months after the time of this episode.

Now that Lisa did not die in an automobile accident in 1957, what does this mean for Al's future relationships? Bingo, the young Al was possibly in love enough with Lisa to for her to forego his womanizing which continued up until at least the time he met his future wife Beth some years later. Although Lisa's survival still does not prevent Al from meeting, courting and then marrying Beth, or the already married Lisa from remaining with her spouse, it's still somewhat surprising that the potential for a relationship was never explored, or never crosses Al's or Lisa's minds. Perhaps it was just what it was: a close friendship between the two young officers, which probably reflected some of the illicit relationships and/or fleeting liaisons which went on among the servicemen and women on the base. Source

Quotable Quotes:

Sam: "Commander if I could have a few minutes to myself before we reconvene?"
Commander: "You won’t be alone."
Sam: "Yeah, well I’ve come to think of him as my shadow."
Shadow: "Sir, Sir." Sam: "Hmm, come on shadow."

Sam: "He’s gone!"
Al: "Who’s gone?"
Sam: "My shadow he’s gone!" Al: "Maybe he went to the head." Sam: "He would sooner wet his pants than leave his post."

"Bingo to quote you, you're in deep ca-ca!"

Sam: "But you’re married!"

Lisa: "Yes, and so is my husband but it hasn’t stopped him from landing in ever blonde from here to Norway!"

Sam: "This guy’s got more women than you do."
Al: "That’s funny. That IS funny. That’s hysterical. Have you looked in the mirror… you haven’t looked in the mirror yet have you?!"

Best Scene:

When Al disappears and is replaced by Edward St. John V. - Sam has no idea what’s going on.

Behind the Scenes / B-Roll:

Script:

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
Produced by: Jeff Gourson, Tommy Thompson
Produced by: Chris Ruppenthal, Paul Brown
Created by: Donald P. Bellisario
Written by: Donald P. Bellisario
Directed By: James Whitmore, Jr.

Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario
Associate Producers: James S. Giritlian, Julie Bellisario
Coordinating Producer: David Bellisario
Director of Photography: Robert McBride
Production Designer: Cameron Birnie
Edited By: Michael S. Stern
Unit Production Manager: Ron Grow
First Assistant Director: R. John Slosser
Second Assistant Director: Kate Yurka
Casting by: Ellen Lubin Sanitsky
Set Director: Robert L. Zilliox
Costume Designer: Jean-Pierre Dorleac
Costume Supervisor: David Rawley
Art Director: Ellen Dambros-Williams
Sound Mixer: Barry D. Thomas
Stunt Coordinator: Diamond Farnsworth
Sound Editor: Greg Schorer
Music Editor: Bruce Frazier
Special Visual Effects: Roger Dorney, Denny Kelly

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 © 1992 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 in association with Universal Television, an MCA Company