501 "Lee Harvey Oswald"
also known as "Lee Harvey Oswald Part I"  & "Lee Harvey Oswald Part II"

Leap Dates:

March 21, 1963
October 5-6, 1957
January 6, 1959
October 21, 1959
April 10, 1963
October 21, 1963
November 21 & 22, 1963

Episode Adopted by: Steve <aka> RossBeckett
Additional info provided by: Brian Greene

Synopsis:

For the first time ever, Sam leaps into a notable figure in history! He has leaped into the life of Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who supposedly murdered President John F. Kennedy. As Sam leaps back and forth several times throughout Oswald's life, his and Oswalds' minds become intertwined to the point that Sam finds himself about to pull the trigger from the Texas Schoolbook Depository window.

Audio from this episode

TV Guide Synopsis
Places
Leap Dates
Project Dates
Name of the Person Leaped Into
Broadcast Date
Music
Project Trivia
Sam Trivia
Al Trivia
Al's Outfits Worn in the Episode
Miscellaneous Trivia
Kiss with History
Guest Stars
Guest Cast Notes
Guests who appeared in other Quantum Leap episodes
Say What?
Quotable Quotes
Best Scene
Awards
Synopsis & Review
Production Credits

Production # : 68102

TV Guide Synopsis:

Part I: A cosmic conspiracy incarnates Sam (Scott Bakula) as JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, whose mind is partly melded with Sam's. Part 1 of two. Al: Dean Stockwell. Lee Harvey Oswald: Willie Garson. Marina: Natasha Pavlova. Maj. Kosenko: Elya Baskin. Gooshie: Dennis Wolfberg.

Part II: Conclusion. Sam leaps into JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald (Willie Garson). Al: Dean Stockwell. Marina: Natasha Pavlova. Maj. Kosenko: Elya Baskin. Gooshie: Dennis Wolfberg.

Note: When first broadcast, both episodes were combined into a two-hour movie. It was later split into two parts for rerun and syndication broadcasts. In syndication, Part II begins with Al and Oswald in the Waiting room as Al tries to explain to Oswald what has happened. It then transitions to Sam/Oswald speaking to the Russians about Racecar.

Season 5 Promo Clip
Features scenes from upcoming episodes.
15 seconds
Watch on YouTube

Lee Harvey Oswald Commercial #1
NBC Tuesday
20 seconds
Watch on YouTube

Lee Harvey Oswald Commercial #2
NBC Tonight
30 seconds
Watch on YouTube

Lee Harvey Oswald Commercial #3
Next on NBC - plus - the opening montage to the episode.
5 minutes 18 seconds
Watch on YouTube

Places:
Project Quantum Leap @ Stallion's Gate New Mexico
Military base in Atsugi, Japan
A bar in Negashaia-Yamato, Japan
Military base in Tustin, California
KGB HQ in Moscow
Oswald's apartments in Russia and Dallas
Streets of New Orleans
Ruth Paine's house in Dallas
Streets of Dallas with scenes at the Texas schoolbook depository

Leap Dates:

Sunday, March 31st, 1963 - Dallas, Texas

Saturday, October 5th -7th, 1957 - Atsugi and Nagashaia-Yamato, Japan

Tuesday, January 6, 1959 - Tustin, California

Wednesday, October 21st, 1959 - Moscow, Russia

Wednesday, April 10th, 1963 - Dallas, Texas

Friday, August 9th, 1963 - New Orleans, Louisiana

Thursday, November 21st -22nd, 1963 - Dallas, Texas

Friday, November 22nd, 1963 - Dallas, Texas

See all the leaps below:

Project Quantum Leap Dates:
February 14 - 16, 1999

Name of Leapee:
Lee Harvey Oswald (aka Alik J. Hidell)

Broadcast date:
Tuesday, September 22, 1992 @ 8PM for 2 hours

Promo Videos:

Music:

Velton Ray Bunch's 15-minute "Suite from Lee Harvey Oswald" (Track 13) appears on the Official Soundtrack.

"Love is Strange" by Mickey & Sylvia plays in the Japanese bar.

"Marine’s Hymn" is sung briefly by Reni Santoni (Sgt. Lopez)

Project Trivia:
When Al appears in the August 9, 1963 leap, he refers to Ziggy as a "he".

It is Valentines Day to the crew at Project Quantum Leap: February 14, 1999!

Sam Trivia:
This is the first time Sam's mind merges with the leapee's mind significantly. It was hinted at in "Jimmy" and became stronger in "The Leap Back."

This is the first time Sam leaps into a notable person in history.

Al Trivia:
Al remembers Simo-Leaping with Sam in "The Leap Back." (Sam remembers it too.)

Al's Outfits Worn in the Episode:
(1) Blue shirt, skinny silver tie, silver bomber jacket and black pants.

(2) Red, white and black patterened shirt, red jacket, and a bolo tie.

(3) Brown shirt with tie and a darker brown jacket.

(4) Brown shirt with tie and brown vest.

(5) White shirt and gray suit coat.

Miscellaneous trivia:

One Planck length is equal to 10^-34 inches. "One Planck length" was mentioned in the episode by Willie Garson (Oswald) and I further researched the String theory which is known as the Superstring Theory.

On October 6th, 1957, when Sam is in Japan as Oswald, a slightly younger Sam Beckett has Leaped into St. Louis, Missouri as Kenny Sharp - AKA Future Boy.

The two usual Leap effects were created digitally for this episode instead of optically, as had been done for every prior Leap.

-Donald Bellisario's middle name is Paul.

Lee Harvey Oswald’s serial number really was 1653230, as stated in the episode.

Alternate titles to this episode: "Leap to Judgement" and "Leaping On A String."

Kiss with History:

Donald Bellisario did meet Lee Harvey Oswald in real life when they were in the U.S. military.

Most of the episode is based on facts and testimony of actual witnesses.

Regular Cast:
Scott Bakula as Dr. Samuel Beckett
Dean Stockwell as Rear Admiral Al Calavicci

Guest Cast:
Reni Santoni as Sergeant Lopez
Willie Garson as Lee Harvey Oswald aka Alik J. Hidell
Natasha Pavlovich (as Natasha Pavlova) as Marina Oswald
Elya Baskin as Major Yuri Kosenko
Donna Magnani as Mariska
Dennis Wolfberg as Gooshie
Michael Lopez (as Michael Rich) as Corporal McBride
Philip McNiven as PFC Briggs
Ward C. Boland as Lt. Obrigowitz
Rodney Kageyama as Joda
Patty Toy as Bar Girl
Julie Ann Lowery as Ellie LaForge
James Medina as Carlos Bringuier
Chris Kinkade as New Orleans Policeman
Matthew Charles Nelson as Sergeant Donald P. Bellisario
Erika Amato as Lieutenant Anna Guri
Max Lazar (as Lazar) as Guard
Nathan Lisle as Frazier
Becky London as Ruth Paine
Karen Ingram as Jackie Bouvier-Kennedy
Mia Drake Inderbitzin as Marina Oswald (in "A Leap for Lisa" footage)

Guest Cast Notes:

Reni Santoni as Sergeant Lopez: Born Reinaldo Santoni in New York City on April 21, 1938 of French and Spanish heritage, Reni (aka Reni Sands) started his career off in entertainment as a comedy writer. He moved in front of the camera in the early 60s and was performing episodic TV drama ("East Side/West Side," "The Trials of O'Brien," "Hawk") when, out of the blue, director Carl Reiner thought enough of Santoni's talents to cast the young actor, an unknown, in his semi-autobiographical film Enter Laughing (1967). Santoni offered potent, reliable secondary turns in film playing good guys, bad guys, serious guys and amusing guys alongside such top names as Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry (1971), Steve Martin in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982), which was again directed by Carl Reiner, Sean Penn in Bad Boys (1983) Richard Pryor in Brewster's Millions (1985), Sylvester Stallone in Cobra (1986) and Gene Hackman in The Package (1989), Howard Stern in Private Parts (1997), and, more recently, Sandra Bullock in 28 Days (2000) and Coolio in Gang Warz (2004). In contrast, he also broke into the voiceover business and provided expert characterizations wherever needed. He offered his vocal skills in Eddie Murphy's Doctor Dolittle (1998) and Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001). His steady career employment, however, has been on the small screen. His 70s series work consisted of ably assisting such crime fighters as "Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law" and "Matt Houston. He was a regular on the short-lived TV series Manimal (1983) and played a Sanchez family member on the TV comedy Sanchez of Bel Air (1986). In addition to playing Father Joe DiMaggio on the series Midnight Caller (1988), he had guest shots on "Scarecrow & Mrs. King," "227," "Hill Street Blues," "Moonlighting," "Miami Vice," "Equal Justice," "Murder, She Wrote" and "Quantum Leap." Decades later Santoni played a recurring role as a judge on the series Murder One (1995) and received great attention for his occasional role as "Poppie" the unsanitary restaurateur on the classic comedy series Seinfeld (1989). Into the millennium, Reni appeared as a guest on such popular TV programs as "According to Jim," "CSI," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Raising the Bar." He made his last appearance on an episode of "Franklin & Bash" in 2012. Reni died of cancer on August 1, 2020.

Willie Garson as Lee Harvey Oswald aka Alik J. Hidell: Rarely at a loss for work, Willie Garson appeared in more than 300 episodes of television and more than 70 films. Best known for his long runs on television as Mozzie on White Collar (2009), Stanford Blatch on Sex and the City (1998), and Henry Coffield on NYPD Blue (1993), he also appeared as the grifter with a heart of gold, Gerard Hirsch, on Hawaii Five-0 (2010). Born in New Jersey, he started training at the Actors Institute In New York, before majoring in psychology and theater at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. After graduation, he quickly started landing guest roles on such shows as Cheers (1982), Family Ties (1982), Thirtysomething (1987), L.A. Law (1986), as well as continually recurring in a wide array of shows including The X-Files (1993), Twin Peaks (1990), Two and a Half Men (2003), Stargate SG-1 (1997), Pushing Daisies (2007), The Practice (1997), Ally McBeal (1997), etc., etc., etc. His favorite long-form role on TV was Dr. Kreutz for Steven Spielberg in the acclaimed miniseries Taken (2002). Garson also appeared in many episodes of Boy Meets World (1993) and Girl Meets World (2014). On the big screen, other than reprising his Sex and the City (1998) role for two features (Sex and the City (2008) and Sex and the City 2 (2010)), he collaborated with the Farrelly brothers on three films, There's Something About Mary (1998), Kingpin (1996), and Fever Pitch (2005), as well as appearing in Soapdish (1991), Groundhog Day (1993), Mars Attacks! (1996), The Rock (1996), Being John Malkovich (1999), and many others. He was often used by such varied directors as Spike Jonze, Michael Bay, the late great Mike Nichols, and Ron Shelton. Next up is Feed (2017), touching on a subject Garson was very proud to be a part of. Upcoming films include 7 Days to Vegas (2019), and Magic Camp (2020). As a director, Garson directed episodes of White Collar (2009) and Girl Meets World (2014), and, with Warner Brothers, had TV shows in development as producer/creator. Garson continued to perform with various bicoastal theater companies such as Naked Angles, Manhattan Theater Club, the Roundabout Theater, and the Geffen. He was also very involved with many charities, including AMFAR, Camp Joslin for Diabetes, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, and especially the Alliance for Children's Rights, which facilitates adoptions in LA County. This had a special place in the Garson family, as Willie adopted his son Nathan in Los Angeles in 2010, and twice served as national spokesman for National Adoption Day. Aside from acting, Garson was known as a world-class poker player, nicknamed Evil Willie on the first episode of Celebrity Poker Showdown (2003), and continued to play in tournaments all over the world, both for charity and through the World Poker Tour. He died on September 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

Natasha Pavlovich (as Natasha Pavlova) as Marina Oswald: Natasha Pavlovich is a Serbian-American powerhouse of an actress who has starred in notable Hollywood and international prime-time network television shows and films .Casting directors cast Natasha as she has a chameleon-like ability to transform into a variety of roles, speak in various languages, portray characters from all over the world, and has dramatic and comedic abilities. From playing the naive girl just off the boat from the old country to the hired assassin, Natasha has acted in hundreds of roles. She spoke Russian when she appeared as Marina Oswald, wife of Lee Harvey Oswald, on the hit TV show "Quantum Leap." She spoke Arabic as an Iraqi Lieutenant on JAG. She sang in Romanian as the nanny on sit-com "Pride & Joy," and spoke in French as a fashion designer on Dick Wolf's show "Players." She spoke Czech as a fashion model on "Down The Shore", played an Italian on "Delta," played a Bolivian beauty queen in "The Naked Truth," and portrayed a Roma in JAG's episode of "Gypsy Eyes." Natasha has appeared in multiple episodes of the popular Serbian TV series "Gorki Plodovi," (Bitter Fruit) acting in Serbian language. One of Natasha's most memorable movie sets was on "The Son of the Pink Panther," filmed at the famous Pinewood Studios in Ivers, England. Her daily routine included learning how to direct from legendary director Blake Edwards, sipping tea with Julie Andrews, and running lines with Academy Award-winner and co-star, Roberto Benigni.

Elya Baskin as Major Yuri Kosenko: Russian-born actor Elya Zalmonovich Baskin emigrated to the United States in 1976. He made his American film debut a year later in Gene Wilder’s “The World’s Greatest Lover” and forged his early career with minor parts in films like Butch and Sundance: The Early Years and the critically-acclaimed Being There. But Baskin found his breakout role playing along side Robin Williams as the tragic clown Anatoly in Paul Mazursky’s film Moscow on the Hudson. In the decades since, Baskin has appeared in dozens of films and television shows, including 2010: The Year We Make Contact, The Name of the Rose with Sean Connery, Air Force One with Harrison Ford and, more recently, alongside Tobey Maguire as the highly agitated landlord Mr. Ditkovich in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3. But time travel fans and listeners to the 11.22.63 Podcast may recognize him from his role as Major Yuri Kosenko from the season five premiere episode of Quantum Leap, Lee Harvey Oswald, where he played opposite Scott Bakula.

Quantum Leap Podcast: Podcast host Skipper Martin recently met with Baskin to discuss his appearance on Quantum Leap, his long and storied career since arriving in America, and how ordinary Russians reacted to the news of the Kennedy Assassination while he was a young man in Russia.

This interview also appears on 11.22.63 Podcast Bonus Episode 1: Quantum Leap: Lee Harvey Oswald, which was a crossover show with The Quantum Leap Podcast.

Donna Magnani as Mariska: Donna is first generation actress, dancer, and now director. She got her start in Hollywood with her legs, dancing with world renown Joe Tremaine on-scholarship at his North Hollywood studio where Paula Abdul, Christina Applegate and many more trained next to Donna. Donna got her acting start with MARTIN SCORSESE in The Last Temptation of Christ working several weeks in Morocco alongside Wilem Defoe, Harvey Keitel and Barbara Hershey. She has a pilot presentation in the can where she starred opposite Richard Burgi ( Desperate Housewives), Cameron Mathison ( Hallmark), Eric Lutes ( Caroline in the City), Jane Sibbet ( Friends) and more, a short film IN SHREDS in the festival circuit garnering 5 awards thus far and is looking forward to begin shooting mid 2023 on two films. Donna has found her gait behind the camera as a director, passionate about bringing an idea to the screen, but will always work as an actress when the opportunity comes, doing, comedy and everything in-between.

Dennis Wolfberg as Gooshie: Dennis Wolfberg was born on March 29, 1946 in New York, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Quantum Leap (1989), The Clairvoyant (1982) and Teacher Teacher (1990). He was married to Jeannie McBride. He taught for 12 years in the NYC school system. Both in the northeast Bronx at P.S. 71 and later in the South Bronx before leaving for a full-time comedy career in 1979. Though he battled cancer for at least two years, he continued to work through the end of August. At the time of his death, he was negotiating a deal for his own TV show. Buried in Hillside Memorial Cemetery. He appeared at clubs in Washington, Denver, Chicago, Boston, Florida and New York, and a representative said he was twice named America's top male comic in votes by club-goers and owners nationwide. In 1990 he won an American Comedy Award as best male stand-up. Became a fixture on "The Tonight Show" and starred in an HBO special in early 1992. He also had a recurring role as a strange scientist on NBC's "Quantum Leap," and in April 1993 "Entertainment Tonight" aired "A Day in the Life of Dennis Wolfberg," focusing on his relentless touring schedule.Father of three sons. He died on October 3, 1994 in Culver City, California, USA.

Michael Lopez (as Michael Rich) as Corporal McBride: Michael Lopez was born on June 2, 1974 in Hollywood, California, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Lotto (2003), The Lovelys (2019) and Agent Collect (2013).

Philip McNiven as PFC Briggs: Philip McNiven is known for Punching the Clown (2009), Scrubs (2001) and Cougar Town (2009).

Ward C. Boland as Lt. Obrigowitz: Ward C. Boland was an actor, known for Quantum Leap (1989), Homefront (1991) and Martial Law (1998). He died on October 9, 2020.

Rodney Kageyama as Joda: Rodney Kageyama was born on November 1, 1941 in San Mateo, California, USA. He was an actor and art director, known for Pretty Woman (1990), Quantum Leap (1989) and The Next Karate Kid (1994). He was married to Ken White. He died on December 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Patty Toy as Bar Girl: Patty Toy is known for Speed (1994), Progeny (1998) and The Dentist (1996).

Julie Ann Lowery as Ellie LaForge: Julie Ann Lowery is known for Quantum Leap (1989), As the World Turns (1956) and They Came from Outer Space (1990).

James Medina as Carlos Bringuier: James Medina was born on March 2, 1962 in Florida, USA. He was an actor, known for Class of 1999 (1990), Quantum Leap (1989) and White Squall (1996). He died on October 16, 1995 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Chris Kinkade as New Orleans Policeman: He is a graduate and former Regional Director of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has appeared in numerous movies, television and theatrical productions over the years including "Alpha Dog", "My Sister's Keeper" and the cult films "Dreaming Hollywood" & "An Acrid Yarn" both of which he also helped produce. He was the on air anchor for "Hit Video USA" for several years hosting an internationally syndicated show which included interviewing the top musical acts of the day. On stage he has appeared as "Jonathan" in the Theatrical World Premiere of "Carnal Knowledge", "Max" in "Bent", "Berger" in "Hair", "Taylor" in "K2" and as "The Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon" in "Night of the Iguana." He is highly regarded and sought after as one of the top therapeutic body workers in the business and created a concept for a show called "SpaTrek" to introduce the healing arts to a wide audience. He also writes and records music as part of the duo "Elsewaves." His friend and mentor John Cassavetes once told him "Success is living a creative life and surrounding yourself with creative people." This is the greatest advice he ever received. To that end he continues to enjoy the journey of creating and collaborating with other creative people.

Matthew Charles Nelson as Sergeant Donald P. Bellisario: Matthew Charles Nelson is known for Quantum Leap (1989) and Cybill (1995).

Erika Amato as Lieutenant Anna Guri: Erika was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, and grew up in the neighboring small town of Mountainside. She attended Kent Place School in Summit, New Jersey, and then went on to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Drama. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she worked steadily as an actress and singer and fronted her own successful alternative rock/pop band, Velvet Chain - best known for their work on the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" TV show and soundtrack album. She recently relocated to New York, where she continues to work on stage and in film. In addition to "Buffy," Velvet Chain has also had songs used on MTV's "Road Rules" and "Live Through This," VH1's "Sparkle Lounge," HBO's "Sex and the City," ABC's "Big Shots," and E!'s "Fashion Television," among others. Was a contestant on the game show, "Jeopardy!". Lead vocalist of the alternative rock band Velvet Chain. Erika grew up with actress Mary McCormack and they were in an elite singing group together at school. Erika is an Equity theater actress and performs in musicals and stage plays throughout the USA.Was a contestant and won on the game show, "Win Ben Stein's Money."

Max Lazar (as Lazar) as Guard: Max Lazar is known for Quantum Leap (1989), MacGyver (1985) and JAG (1995).

Nathan Lisle as Frazier: Nathan Lisle is known for Quantum Leap (1989) and Babe Ruth (1991).

Becky London as Ruth Paine: Becky London was born in Philadelphia, PA. She lives in New York City. In addition to working in film, television and theater, Becky is an audiobook narrator. She was married to Randy Martin (deceased); they have one son. Her father was a doctor, her mother was an artist. She has two brothers, an electrical engineer and a videogame creative director. There are no other actors her family.

Karen Ingram as Jackie Bouvier-Kennedy: Karen Ingram is known for Quantum Leap (1989), Dumb and Dumber (1994) and Knockout (2000).

Mia Drake Inderbitzin as Marina Oswald (in "A Leap for Lisa" footage): Mia Drake's father was a foreign service officer giving her the privilege of living and traveling all over the world. She was born and lived in Rio de Janiero, Brazil before moving to Accra, Ghana and New Delhi, India. She moved to Maryland to finish high school. She found her self back in Mumbai and New Delhi, India in 2006 where she was fortunate to get involved with "Slumdog Millionaire."She resides in Los Angeles and has two children.

Guests who have appeared on other QL episodes:

Willie Garson played Seymour in the first season finale "Play it Again, Seymour".

-Dennis Wolfberg played the part of Gooshie in "Genesis", "The Leap Back", "Killin' Time", and "Mirror Image".

Rodney Kageyama played Choo Choo in "The Leap Home: Part II: Vietnam."

Julie Ann Lowery played Vicky Jenkins in "Miss Deep South."

-Although not a guest in this episode, director James Whitmore Jr. has many directing credits for Quantum Leap and many other shows including "24", "Enterprise", and "Mister Sterling" in which his father played a recurring part as Bill Sterling Sr. That show was canned by NBC right after the first season. 

Say What?
In "The Leap Back" (The 4th season premiere) the date at PQL is September 18, 1999, as mentioned by Al. However, "Lee Harvey Oswald" took place from February 14-16, 1999 - seven months earlier.

Sam is handed red-tipped bullets, which are blanks. When he loads the gun, they are shown as live bullets.

Sam's rifle shifts from his hands to over his shoulder during one shot.

Why does Sam keep Leaping within Oswald's lifetime? In several of the Leaps, he doesn't seem to be there to change anything, but rather to observe or just do what Oswald would have done anyway.

The on-screen caption shows the date as January 6th, 1959, but the duty roster shows March 3rd. "The Worker" brocure is also from March 1959.

In the second scene (1959) with Lee Harvey Oswald appearing in 1999, he’s two years older than the first time (1957) but he picks up the conversation where they left off. No swiss-cheese effect for Oswald!

When Sam Leaps into the secret service guard at the end, Al is not re-centered on Sam as would normally happen - he is still next to Oswald.

Quotable Quotes:

Sam (as Oswald): "Carlos, do you wanna hit me?"

Al: "He's doing exactly what Oswald did!"
Carlos: "With pleasure."(Is about to hit him when...)

New Orleans Policeman: "Y'all freeze! Hands up against the wall! Up against the wall! Shut up!"

Al: "Sam, can you hear me? It's the ninth of August of 1963. There's only three months until the Kennedy assassination Sam, and this leap is bringing you closer! If you leap into Dallas on November 22nd and Oswald is still in control, you won't be able to change anything Sam! You gotta fight him. Fight him Sam!"

Sam: "My name?"

Al: "DR. SAMUEL BECKETT!"

Sam (as Oswald): "My name is Lee Harvey Oswald."[Leaps out]

[Scene between Al and Gooshie walking in the PQL corridors]

Gooshie: "Ziggy computes the best option under the circumstances is to do nothing."

Al: "Well Ziggy doesn't want to make another mistake."

Gooshie: "Perhaps, but if Dr. Beckett leaped into Oswald to uncover the conspiracy, then doing nothing is an effective course of action."

Al: "How the hell do you figure that?"

Gooshie: "Whether Dr. Beckett is himself or Lee Harvey Oswald is immaterial. Either way, you'll be there to observe. To watch the sixth floor window, the grassy knoll, the railroad overpass. You'll see it all! You'll know the truth."

Al: "Yeah, but I won't be able to stop it!"

Gooshie: "I realize that Admiral, but you yourself said that's not what Dr. Beckett was leaped back to do."

Al: "Well, what if I was wrong? What if that's precisely the reason that Sam was leaped back?"

Gooshie: "Then Oswald would have to be the sole assassin."

Al: "That's right!"

Gooshie: "No conspiracy?"

Al: "No. Just one angry, envious man who wanted to propel himself into infamy!"

Gooshie: "One lone man!?!"

Al: "I know it's more comforting to believe in plots, because if Kennedy could be killed that easily, by one sicko, what hope is there for the rest of us?"

Gooshie: "Admiral, what are you gonna do?"

Al: "To try and find the truth."[He goes into the waiting room]

[Skip to waiting room scene with Willie Garson and Dean]

Oswald: "I admire the president very much!"

Al: "You admire him, but you're gonna kill him."

Oswald: "That's what this is about! You're secret service and you're detaining me because you think I'm going to shoot the president."

Al: "I know you're going to shoot the president. What I wanna know is are you acting alone?"

Oswald: "I don't even own a gun!"

Al: "You own a 6.5mm mannlicher-carcano rifle and an S+W .38 special. The rifle is wrapped in a blanket at Ruth Paine's house and the pistol is at your rooming house at 1026 North Beckley. You ordered both of these guns through the mail under the alias of Alex J. Hidell."

Oswald: "Marina! She told you these lies!"

Al: "Marina told me nothing. But, when questioned, she'll talk about the shot you took at General Walker. And she'll talk about locking you in the bathroom when Nixon come to Dallas because she was afraid that you were going to try and shoot him too!"

Oswald: "I want a lawyer!"

Al: "There's no lawyer here, there's just you and me and the truth!"

Oswald: "I know my rights. I'm a member of the ACLU and I have-"[Cut off by Al who grabs him by the shirt]

Al:[Getting very angry] "You're going to shoot the president from the sixth floor window of the Texas schoolbook depository!"

Oswald: "You're crazy!"

Al: "You're damn right I'm crazy.[Pulls a gun out of his back pocket] I'm crazy enough to blow your brains out through your ear if I don't get the truth!"[Now you see Oswald choking with fear]

Oswald: "I don't believe in killing someone just because I disagree with their politics!"

Al: "ARE you acting alone?"

Oswald: "I- I want a lawyer."[Al pulls the trigger right next to Oswald's ear. Remember, the only thing that's preventing Al from killing him is if he does, Dr. Beckett can never get back]

[Shot of Sam who looks like he heard the shot]

Oswald: "I'M DEAF! I'M DEAF!"

Al: "You're gonna be dead in a minute if you don't tell me the truth!"

Oswald: "Okay, Okay. Just don't hurt me. I'm not gonna shoot the president. But, I know who he is."

Al: "Who?"

Oswald: "Hidell. The guy who ordered the guns in the mail. He's the one who-[Cut off by Sam's words] I'm lying Al."

Al: "Sam!"

Sam: "There is no conspiracy. I'm acting alone and you have got to stop me."

Al: "I can't reach you Sam. He's taken over completely!"

Sam: "You have to. You have to. Or else it's gonna happen all over again. You have to find-[Cut off by Oswald's words] -Hidell. Find Alik J. Hidell. That's the man who's going to shoot the president."[With that, Al walks out of the waiting room and end of scene]

Best Lines:
"I'm not like you Al! I don't have to sleep with every woman that I meet just because-Because she's there!"-Sam to Al in the bar.

"String theory?[pause] It closed the conceptual gulp between relativity and quantum mechanics. It postulates that subatomic particles are not points, but strings, about one planck length long. The rate at which strings vibrate can generate the properties of all known particles. Huh? How did I know that?" -Lee Oswald spouting out Sam's words

Best Scene:
Close to the end when Sam was about topull the trigger and Al comes in to try and reach him. He's successful after a while and Sam leaps out just
in time to save the President's wife.

Awards:
Jon Koslowsky: Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Camera Editing for a Series in 1993 and the American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited One Hour Series for Television in 1993

Jean-Pierre Dorléac: Emmy nominations for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series in 1993 and for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series in 1993

Synopsis & Review:

Sam leaps into various points in the life of Lee Harvey Oswald (played by Willie Garson) in an effort to seemingly prevent him from killing President John F. Kennedy or find the truth about the events that day. However, the objective is made more complex by the fact that their minds are merging - Sam starts to believe he actually is Oswald.

If Al can't bring Sam back, it will be Sam Beckett who pulls the trigger on Kennedy that fateful day in Dallas. In the end, Oswald is the lone assassin of JFK (Al speculating that people made up the idea of a conspiracy rather than face the idea that we are all still so vulnerable that one man could kill the President that easily). Sam makes a final leap into U.S. Secret Service agent Clint Hill who climbed on the back of the President's limousine during the assassination.

In the final scene, Sam agonizes over the fact that he couldn't save the President's life, and accomplish his mission. Al says that maybe Sam did. When Sam responds that he didn't save JFK, Al says that Ziggy thinks "you were here to save her," referencing to someone off-camera. The shot cuts to Jackie Kennedy in her iconic pink outfit from that day, looking into the room her husband is in. "Your swiss-cheesed mind probably doesn't remember this," Al says, "but the first time, Oswald killed Jackie too."

At this reveal, Sam leaps. Source

Personal Review by Steve <aka> RossBeckett:

Of all the controversial episodes of Quantum Leap, this one is my top favorite. The reason being is because of the suspenseful scenes between Scott (Sam, while he's Oswald) and Dean - and the waiting room scenes between Dean and Willie Garson(Oswald). I also really enjoyed the January 6, 1959 leap ever since I figured out that Matthew Charles Nelson was playing the role of the one and only QL creator Don Bellisario. To have Sam Beckett talking with Don is what I like to call a kiss with reality. It can also be called a kiss with history of course. Sam did not save the president, but he saved the first lady, which I thought was very touching! ***** out of 5!!

Production Credits:

Theme by: Mike Post
Musical Score By: Velton Ray Bunch
Edited by: Jon Koslowsky, A.C.E.
Production Designer: Cameron Birnie
Director of Photography: Michael Watkins, A.S.C.
Co-Executive Producer: Deborah Pratt
Co-Executive Producer: Chas. Floyd Johnson
Supervising Producers: Harker Wade, Tommy Thompson
Supervising Producer: Richard C. Okie
Producer: Robin Jill Bernheim
Created by: Donald P. Bellisario
Written by: Donald P. Bellisario
Directed by: James Whitmore, Jr.

Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario
Associate Producers: Scott Ejercito, Julie Bellisario
Coordinating Producer: David Bellisario
Unit Production Manager: Ron Grow
First Assistant Director: R. John Slosser
Second Assistant Director: Brian Faul
Casting by: Ellen Lubin Sanitsky C.S.A.
Set Director: Robert L. Zilliox
Costume Designer: Jean-Pierre Dorleac
Costume Supervisors: David Rawley, Katina Kerr
Art Director: Ellen Dambros-Williams
Sound Mixer: Barry D. Thomas
Stunt Coordinator: Diamond Farnsworth
Make-up: Jeremy Swan
Hairstylist: Andrea Mizushima
Fashion Concepts: Jean-Pierre Dorleac
Sound Editor: Greg Schorer
Music Editor: Bruce Frazier
Special Visual Effects: Roger Dorney, Denny Kelly

Film footage provided in part by the John F. Kennedy Library Southwest Film/Video Archive, and Fries Entertainment Inc.

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.

Some of the characters portrayed in this motion picture are based upon actual persons. Although some of those events have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes, otherwise 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 Television, an MCA Company

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