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Screencaps Click to enlarge |
5x21 "Mirror
Image" Original Series Finale |
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Mirror
Image Discovered
in an Ebay auction in February, 2018 Thanks
to Allison Pregler over at Movie
Nights for these images! |
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Leap Dates: August
8, 1953 |
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Episode
Adopted by: TVNewsCam |
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Teaser: In the final episode of Quantum Leap, Sam leaps into a bar in Cokeburg, Pennsylvania on the date of his birth at the exact time he was born. He drinks a beer and looks in the mirror. He sees his own reflection. This begins a rollercoaster ride of strange occurrences as people from the past appear to him, but with different names. Al the Bartender seems to know everything and may be able to offer some insight to the reason Sam has been leaping in time for the past five years. Back at Project Quantum Leap, Al and Gooshie are troubled to discover that there is no one in the waiting room. While they feverishly search for the lost Dr. Beckett, Sam tries to unravel the mysteries of his own life's work, save a pair of miners from a collapsed mine shaft, and finally takes the opportunity to right a major wrong in Al's life. |
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Sam: I want to go home. |
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Episode Menu |
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TV
Guide Synopsis |
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Production # 68126 | ||||
TV Guide Teaser:
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Commercial for this episode: |
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Places: Cokeburg, Pennsylvania San Diego, California |
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Leap
Dates: |
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Leapee: |
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Broadcast
Date: May 5, 1993 - Wednesday |
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Synopsis & Review by TVNewsCam: Brief Summary: Sam finds himself
in the strangest Leap yet, with a
mystery that seems worthy of Sherlock Holmes! Not only does he Leap
into himself, it happens right at the exact moment of his birth, and
the people that he encounters bear familiar faces from his previous
Leaps. To make matters worse, the Project has lost contact with Sam and
are forced to search for him in time. Who exactly is the bartender, who
seems to know everything about Dr. Beckett? What clue does he hold to
Quantum Leaping? Can Sam figure it out, without Al’s help? Detailed Synopsis: Golden light spills through the windows as the blue Quantum light fades from Sam. A floor fan oscellates, blowing cooler air on Sam, who removes his hat and wipes his face and brow from the sweat. It apparently is a very hot and humid day. A old song can be heard playing over a radio. Sam looks over and notices a man standing behind the bar, wiping a glass in his hand with a towel. His hair is slicked back and he has a mustache. He has a white apron on over his portly belly, and is looking right at Sam. Sam walks over and puts his hat on the bar counter. He asks the bartender what he has on tap. The bartender tells him "Schlitz". Sam repeats the name, almost as if inquiring if he heard right. The bartender tells him that he has Iron City, Duquesne or Fort Pitt in bottles. Sam tells the bartender that Schlitz will be fine, and the bartender asks if Sam wants regular or schooner, holding up the glass that he is wiping first, and then a bigger glass. Sam answers schooner, and the bartender goes over to the tap and fills up the taller glass. The bartender brings the glass over as Sam digs through his pockets and asks how much he owes. The bartender informs him that it’s 15 cents. He seems kind of surprised, but hands the bartender the change. The bartender takes the money and rings it into a cash register. He deposits the coins into the cash drawer, and then gives the drawer a thrust closed with his belly. Sam picks up the glass and begins to walk around the bar counter, and notices that the bartender is looking at him as well. As he gets to the center of the bar, he looks over to a mirror which is just behind where all of the bottles are stored, most with spouts commonly used by bartenders when mixing drinks. As Sam gazes into the mirror, he looks absolutely stunned. The reflection looking back at him, for the first time in five years, is his own! ***** Sam looks in awe
at his reflection while the
bartender asks if something's wrong. Sam, still dumbfounded, manages to
mutter that it's him in the mirror. ***** At Project Quantum
Leap, Gooshie points out the
obvious to Al... that there is nobody in the Waiting Room. Al
mentions that it's impossible, unless Sam had to Leap into himself.
Gooshie informs Al that there is a 99.2% probability. Al is stunned,
realizing that Sam is somewhere in time as himself, and asks how Ziggy
is going to find him. Gooshie informs Al that they aren't sure that
they can. ***** Al's place
is now filled customers, miners who
were relaxing and having fun after a long day of work. Sam muses to
himself about how it was the day he was born, and instead of nursing as
his mother's breast, he was nursing a beer, trying to make sense of the
strange Leap. What was even stranger was that the reflection in the
mirror was his own, and those at the bar had names and faces familiar
to him. He wondered what wrong he was there to put right, and where Al
was. He was so desperate for answers that he was looking for them on TV. Sam then asks him if his name is Mo Stein, but he replies that it’s Ziggy. At first, Sam smiles, but then his expression changes as he realizes what the response was. He then asks if his name was Ziggy, to which Ziggy asks if he’s heard of him. Sam notes that he has a friend named Ziggy. Ziggy says that he never knew anyone else with that name and asked what she does. Sam replies that she figures things out. Ziggy seems kind of surprised and asks if she’s a girl, to which Sam tells him yes. Ziggy then remarks that she’s probably not much of a looker, and Sam adds that he’d better not let her hear him say that. Stawpah comes over and laughs, and Ziggy asks if Stawpah wants him to straighten his back for him. He then admits to Sam that Stawpah makes fun of him because Ziggy failed the written tests and didn’t qualify on the machine gun. He then asks Sam if he’s ever fired a machine gun, to which Sam replies that he isn’t sure. Ziggy explains
that he would remember if he did and
provided a technical explanation, complete with sound effects. He also
indicated that empty cabbages fly around everywhere. Sam again corrects
him with the word cartridges, and Ziggy says "Them too." ***** At the bar, Stawpah tells Al that Sam isn’t who he is pretending to be. Al asks for clarification, and Stawpah replies that when he figures that out, he’ll know why Sam’s there. Al suggests that maybe Sam’s there for the same reason Stawpah is... to have a beer. Stawpah quickly counters that he doesn’t drink beer and Al knows that. Al covers, claiming that he forgot, but Stawpah is quick to point out that Al never forgets anything. Stawpah then asks what would happen around the bar if Al were to forget, to which Al replies that things might go a little... ca-ca. ***** From where he is sitting, Sam overhears the bartender say those words and looks over in shock. Again, his mind flashes back to a memory of Al... his Al, saying the exact same thing. Ziggy tells Sam not to let Stawpah get his coat, and that Stawpah forgets that he isn’t in Russia where everyone works for the BVD. Sam again corrects Ziggy with KGB, and both Ziggy and Sam say in unison, "Them too." Sam gets up and walks over to Al, mentioning that he knows another Al who says ca-ca. Al is quick to point out that it’s a common expression, but Sam notes that it’s not where he comes from. Al reminds him that he’s not where he comes from, and Sam asks if it’s just another coincidence. Al points out that it’s a common expression in Cokeburg where nearly everybody is from the old country. Sam then suggests that Al knows why he’s there. Al asks if Sam’s watched any of the old Bogart movies. The first rule of good bartending is not to give out information for nothing. Al reaches over and grabs a punchboard, asking if Sam wants to take a chance. It would cost him a nickel, but he could hit the jackpot. Sam asks what the jackpot is, to which Al says that it’s $10 and the answer to his question. Sam asks if Al means that, and Al says yes. Sam hands Al the nickel and takes the punchboard, using the key to punch out a location. He takes the roll of paper and slowly begins to unravel it while asking why he’s here. Al asks if Sam’s hit the jackpot, but Sam looks at the paper and tells him no. Al then tells Sam that he will have to figure it out for himself. ***** Al asks Gooshie how long the nano-search to find Sam is going to take, and Gooshie tells him one month. Al practically goes ballistic at the thought, to which Gooshie points out that there is a chance that Ziggy could get a lock in as little as 2 and a half weeks, give or take a day or two. Al sighs and then walks up the ramp to the Imaging Chamber, which closes behind him. Al puts on his hat and punches a button on the handlink, asking Gooshie if he’s ready. Gooshie answers affirmative, and a swirling vortex of images surrounds Al. He looks at the images, and comments that he knows Sam is out there somewhere, urging Sam to lock onto him. ***** Laughing can be heard throughout the bar. The miners are still there, some sitting at a table and playing cards. Stawpah is reading a paper, commenting on how Russia now has an H-bomb. Another miner doesn’t see the big deal, but Stawpah asks what if they drop it on Pittsburgh? Sam, who is standing by the table with the card game, jumps into the conversation and says that the Russians won’t drop the bomb. Stawpah asks Sam how he knows, to which Sam jokes that he’s a spy, and spies know everything. Stawpah is very sarcastic as he joins in on the laughter, saying that it was funny. Ziggy then points out that if the Russians do drop a bomb, they could hide in the mine until the radiator blows away. Yet another miner corrects Ziggy, telling him radiation, and Ziggy says "That too." Stawpah mocks him, telling Ziggy that he’s so dumb that he doesn’t even know his own name. Ziggy tells him that it’s Simo Servonovich, and then asks if Stawpah wants him to spell it. Stawpah tells him yes in Russian. Ziggy begins to spell it, getting through only two letters before he stops. Sam sits down next to one of the miners and notes that Ziggy is just a nickname, to which Ziggy tells him yes. Stawpah laughs that Ziggy can’t spell it. Sam asks how he got it, and one of the miners tells Sam that a donkey threw Ziggy into a steam radiator. Everyone laughs, but Sam is confused. Another miner explains that they were donkey basketball in the school gym to raise money for the town’s widows. Sam asks if that tore up the gym floor, but Ziggy replied that they wore tennis shoes. The one miner explained that after Ziggy got tossed into the radiator, he zigged and zagged for a week. Ziggy then added that Al called him Ziggy ever since. The miners continue to joke around, but Sam gets up from his chair and looks over at the bartender, asking if Al does all of the nicknaming around there. The miners then begin to rattle off all of the other nicknames that have been given out. Stawpah then asks why Sam cares what Al calls them, to which Sam replies that he needs it for his BVD report. Another roar of laughter erupts from the table, but Sam continues with his questions, asking if Al nicknamed Gooshie. Ziggy points out that Al must have, since Al nicknames everybody. Stawpah clarifies that Gooshie had his name since the day he was born, and Al only nicknames dummies like Ziggy. Sam hangs his head in frustration, and then tells Stawpah that he’s getting tired of him calling Ziggy dummy. Stawpah asks why, to which Sam counters with another question, asking Stawpah what he would think if someone called him a cripple. Stawpah tells Sam that he is a cripple, but Sam doesn’t relent. He asks if physically disabled would be a more humane way to describe his condition. Stawpah claims that it won’t change anything, but Sam points out that it might change attitudes towards Stawpah. Ziggy then jokes that the only way attitudes about Stawpah would change would be if he shut his mouth. Again, laughter erupts from the table, only to be interrupted by the sound of short blasts from the mine work whistle. Sam asks what it is, and Ziggy tells him that it’s trouble in the mine. Without further questions, everyone rushes out of the bar, including Sam, as Al looks on in concern... ***** Smoke billows from a pipe in the rolling Pennsylvania countryside. The sound of the whistle seems to echo through the mountains. Men pour out of the elevator shaft leading to the mine, making their way through the smoke and the dust. A worker falls to his knees in front of another gentleman who has a white shirt on, suspenders, and a hat. The miner says that there was an explosion in Butt 18. The gentleman asks how bad, to which the miner replies that the fire blew itself out, but they lost about 100 feet of tunnel and two men are trapped. The gentleman asks who they are, and the miner tells him Tonchi and Pete. Sam is standing nearby and overhears this. As he turns, his face is clearly etched with concern. ***** As men begin to gather equipment, one of the miners tells the well-dressed gentleman that the bottom of the mine is filling with gas, and they will need to ventilate before sending anyone down for a rescue. One miner suggested that they use air tanks, but the one who collapsed to his knees earlier mentioned that one spark could cause the whole mine to explode. Ziggy asks about Tonchi and Pete, to which the well-dressed gentleman says that they will have to wait. Sam then jumps into the situation, asking what if they can’t wait, or if they’re injured. The gentleman asks Sam who he is, and Stawpah quickly replies that Sam is the state safety inspector. The gentleman
turns to face Sam and almost looks
pale. He asks if Sam is from the Bureau of Mines. Sam ignores his
question and asks how long it will take to ventilate the mine. The
gentleman exchanges glances with a miner, who answers that it would
take 48 hours. One of the miners from the bar is animate, saying that
in 48 hours Tonchi and Pete would be dead. The miner who answered the
gentleman suggests that Tonchi and Pete could already be dead. ***** Sam is
looking out the window as Al tells Sam
that he's not here to save Tonchi and Pete. Sam turns around and asks
how Al knew what he was thinking, but Al tells him that a good
bartender has to be part philosopher, part psychiatrist, and part
psychic. ***** Miners are
gathered in the mine by the shaft,
with Sam at the forefront. A guard stands by the cage, reminding
everyone that Mr. Collins said taht the mine was closed until it's
ventilated. Sam tells the guard that Mr. Collins changed his mind, but
the guard points out that Mr. Collins doesn't change his mind. ***** The
swirling
vortex of images still surrounds Al,
who isn't looking too good. He tells Gooshie that he's getting dizzy,
but Gooshie tells him that they've hardly begun and wonders if they
could narrow the search. ***** Stawpah is
sitting at a table by the window,
drinking a soda out of a bottle. Sam is sitting at the bar, mentioning
how if he is Don Quixote, then Al is his Sancho, and there isn't
anything Al wouldn't do for Sam. The bartender jumps in and muses that
there probably isn't anything that Sam wouldn't do for Al. ***** Sam is stunned at what he had witnessed, but the miners in the bar seem to be oblivious as to what just happened. Sam asked where he went, and the miners ask who Sam was talking about. He tells them that it was Stawpah, but Ziggy asks if he means someone named Steve. Sam again clarifies that the name was Stawpah, but Ziggy tells him that Stawpah means Steve in Russian. Sam points out that he was sitting at a table a moment ago, and again asked where Stawpah went. Sam begins to walk over to the table, and some of the miners follow him as Sam goes on about how Stawpah was right there, turned blue, electricity ran through him, and he disappeared. Thinking that it’s a joke, Mutta comments that whatever Sam is drinking, he’ll have one. A couple of miners echo that sentiment as they turn back toward the bar. Sam, however, remains transfixed on the table as he begins to figure it out, realizing that what happened to Stawpah was probably what it looked like to Leap. He then exclaims that Stawpah was a Leaper! A voice interrupts, correcting Sam by telling him that Stawpah was a Ukranian. Standing in the doorway is Gooshie, who enters the bar and walks over to the counter, grabbing a drink and quickly downing it. He tells Sam that he came over on the boat with Stawpah. Sam asks again, just to be sure, if he knew Stawpah. Gooshie explains that he worked the Mariana mine with Stawpah until Gooshie moved to Cokeburg. Gooshie indicates to Sam that Stawpah was the best loader he had ever seen. Sam reiterates what he had heard earlier – that Stawpah told him that he could load 24 tons in a day. Gooshie quickly points out that nobody could load 24 tons, not even Stawpah, but he came close. He continues by telling Sam that the Mariana mine blew up and Stawpah was the only miner who came out alive, and everyone started looking funny at Stawpah after that because slate stooped him over. Sam agrees that Stawpah was all stooped over, and then medically clarifies that it wasn’t slate that caused that, but arthritis from loading coal in water. Gooshie is bewildered and asks Sam how he knows Stawpah, and Sam tells him that he had just met him there that very day. Gooshie tells him that Stawpah died in 1933, twenty years prior. The miners turn back to their drinks and their conversations, leaving Sam to stand there, wondering what is really going on. ***** The swirling vortex of images continues to surround Al, who doesn’t look that good. He tells Gooshie that he is going to ralph. Gooshie parrots him, turning it into a question, and Al replies with a bunch of slang and colorful euphamisms for vomiting. Gooshie retorts with a technical phrase, and Al replies affirmatively, telling Gooshie that he’s out of there. Dizzy and off balance, Al stumbles out of the Imaging Chamber and over to the control console. He leans down upon the colorful cubes, using them as a support. Gooshie tells Al that he was about to suggest a break anyways, and then notes that he had scanned all of Sam’s birthdays from 1954 to the end of the 21st century, and wherever Sam was, it wasn’t his birthday. Before he could continue, Gooshie asks if Al had literally meant Sam’s first birthday. Al looks at Gooshie and asks what he means by that. Almost sheepishly, Gooshie points out that the search was started with Sam’s first birthday, not the actual day that he was born. Al looks dumbfounded , sighs "Oh my God," and turns back to the Imaging Chamber. ***** Sam is again at the bar, staring at himself in the mirror as Al goes about his business of cleaning glasses. Sam’s voice can be heard as he thinks to himself about how this Leap had taken a quantum twist, and he no longer knew what was real and what was imagined, or if what he imagined was from his mind or someone else’s. Sam asks Al if he created all of this, but Al shrugs it off and turns to Sam, telling him that he built it, if that is what Sam means. Sam persists, telling Al that it is more than just a bar. Al looks around and tells Sam that there is something special about the place, but Sam doesn’t let up. He continues on about how dead men save miners and then vanish in an aura of blue light, noting that there would be something special about the place. Al tells Sam that books are full of stories of the dead saving the living, but Sam presses on, asking if Stawpah really was there. Al replies that he remembers Stawpah. Sam asks why the other miners don’t, but Al cryptically responds that it’s the way it is. Sam doesn’t believe that, asking how Stawpah could be with them one moment, gone the next, the miners have no memory of Stawpah, and how he can accept "that’s the way it is" as an explanation. Al retorts, telling Sam that it is sometimes the best explanation. Sam looks frustrated, and tells Al that it isn’t enough for him. Al counters, telling Sam that he doesn’t think that Sam is ready for more. Sam dares him to try. As Al walks away, the reflection in the mirror shows a person with a clean face. It’s Gooshie, the bearded man sitting beside him. Also, reflected images of Ziggy, Tonchi and Pete cannot be seen. After Gooshie finishes his shot of liquor, he walks away and Al moves back over, asking Sam if he can accept what he sees as reality. Sam asks him which reality he should accept, and then indicates the miners behind him, and then to the mirror. Al asks him if he’s accepted both, looking at all of those mirrors. Sam realizes that Al is the one who has been Leaping Sam around through time, but Al denies it. Sam asks what he means, and Al points to Sam’s reflection in the mirror, telling Sam that Sam is the one who has been Leaping himself through time. Sam is in utter denial, telling Al that there is no way he will buy that explanation. Al moves back over to Sam and asks him why he created Project Quantum Leap. Sam replies that he wanted to travel in time, to which Al asks Sam why he wanted to do so. Sam begins, but stumbles over his words. Al asks if Sam wanted to make the world a better place, to which Sam replies of course. Al continues, asking if Sam wanted to put right what once went wrong, but Sam clarifies that he never intended it to happen one life at a time. Al comments that Sam is "Mother Teresa", and then asks him if he believes that all he has done is change a few lives. Sam tells him yes, and Al points out, at the risk of over inflating Sam’s ego, that Sam has done much more. Al goes on to explain how the lives he has touched, touched others, and those lives others. Al notes that Sam has done a lot of good, and could do a lot more. Sam counters, telling Al that he doesn’t want continue, only to go home. Al asks why he hasn’t, but Sam still claims that he doesn’t control his own future, but the bartender does. Al looks at Sam and tells him that he will only do this for as long as he wants to, and Sam asks if he can Leap home anytime that he wants. Al replies technically yes, and Sam asks him what the catch is. Al explains that Sam has to accept that Sam is the one controlling his own destiny. ***** The swirling vortex of images surrounds Al as Gooshie’s voice informs him that they’re getting a lock. As the hologram stabilizes, Al looks around and spots Sam Beckett, calling out to him. Sam immediately turns when he hears the familiar voice call his name and calls out Al’s name. Sam gets up and follows Al outside, although Al walks through the window and Sam opens the door. Al tells Sam that it’s good to see him, and Sam mentions that he thought that Al would never get there. Al asks Sam where they are, and Sam points to the window of the bar, pointing out the name. Al laughs, saying that he had always wanted his own bar. Sam continues, telling Al that the place is more than a bar, and then mentions that the place is where it all started. Al asks him where what started, and Sam tells him Quantum Leap. Al looks around and tells Sam that they aren’t in New Mexico, but Sam persists, reminding Al about the theory that something or someone grabbed Sam when he had first Leaped. Al is cautious as to where this is leading, and Sam points back into the bar, telling Al that someone inside has been responsible for Leaping Sam around in time. Al looks through the window and spots the bartender, asking Sam if that is who he had meant, and Sam tells him yes. Sam points out that the bartender wants Sam to believe that he’s the one who has been Leaping himself around through time, but Sam thinks that it’s the bartender. As Sam is revealing this, Al looks to Sam with a look on his face that suggests that he thinks Sam has gone crazy. Sam continues to explain how the miners all have different names in this Leap, but look like people Sam has encountered before... Moe Stein, Frank and Jimmy LaMotta... plus other coincidences like the same bad breath between the Gooshie there and the Gooshie at Quantum Leap. Sam is getting worked up over all of this, and Al looks more convinced than ever that Sam is losing it. Al suggests that they had better get Sam out of there, but Sam tells Al that everything he’s said is the truth. Al is still disbelieving that Sam hasn’t been Leaped around by God, but by some bartender. Sam insists that the guy is more than just a bartender... that he could be God, or Fate, or Time, or something else that they hadn’t even thought of. At this point, Al’s expression suggests that he really thinks that Sam has lost his marbles, and he calls out to Gooshie. Not letting up, Sam asks Al if he turns blue and tingles with electrical energy when he Leaps. Al tells him that he doesn’t know since he goes back into the Imaging Chamber. Sam insists that the same probably happens to him as he had seen it happen to another person, although nobody Leaped back in probably because the guy was dead. Just hearing the word dead makes Al turn pale, and he tries to get out of the conversation, but Sam still rambles on. He reminds Al about all of the stores of the souls of the dead who have come back to warn the living, wondering if they are all Leapers like Stawpah. Al looks confused, but Sam explains that Stawpah was the name of the guy he was referring to, telling Al that Stawpah means Steve in Russian. Al tells Sam that he knows what the name means, since he has an uncle named Stawpah. Sam sits down on a bench as he asks if Al’s uncle suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Al responds, telling Sam that it’s got him twisted up like a pretzel. Sam begins to laugh as the irony of everything has just sunk in, but Al tells Sam that it’s not funny. Sam tells him that it is, but Al asks why. Sam tells Al that he doesn’t know. Al looks heartbroken and tells Sam to take it easy until he can figure things out with Ziggy. As Al presses a button on the handlink, opening the Imaging Chamber door, he tells Sam that he is going to get Sam out of this, whatever it takes. The Imaging Chamber door closes just as bartender Al walks through the front door of the bar. Sam looks up at him and chuckles, saying Al’s uncle. Al laughs himself, admitting that he’s always found coincidences to be amusing. He sits down on the bench next to Sam, even though Sam still asks if Al wants him to believe that Sam is Leaping himself. Al sighs and points out that if he had been a priest, but Sam interrupts indicating that he had been one. Al corrects himself and states that if the priesthood had been Sam’s chosen life, even though the Church would move him from parish to parish, wouldn’t he still have to accept responsibility for the life that he leads. Sam notes that even priests can quit. Al points out that’s true, but then notes that priests can take sabbaticals, especially before embarking on a difficult new assignment. Sam asks if the Leaps are going to get tougher. Al asks where Sam would like to go, to which Sam tells him that he wants to go home, but he can’t because he’s got a wrong to put right for Al. Sam turns to Al and asks if he knew. Al smiles and puts his arm around the Leaper, saying "God bless, Sam." With that, the aura of blue electrical energy surrounds Dr. Beckett and he Leaps. ***** When the light fades, Sam is standing in a darkened room. In the background, "Georgia" by Ray Charles can be heard, although very softly. Sam’s gaze rests upon a young woman with dark hair, dancing with an invisible partner to the music. He whispers out her name... Beth. Beth turns and faces him, startled by the appearance of a stranger in her house. She asks who he is and how he got in. Sam tells Beth that she isn’t going to harm her, but is there to help her and Al. She asks if he’s a friend of Al’s, and he tells her yes, asking if they could sit down. She seems somewhat hesitant, but agrees to Sam’s request. They move over to the living room, where the light is brighter. As they both sit down, Sam looks at Beth and tells her that he is going to tell her a story. It will have a happy ending, but only if she believes him. Beth asks about if she doesn’t believe him, but Sam gently swears that she will. Sam explains that, instead of starting at the beginning of the story, he’ll go right to the happy ending. He smiles at her and reveals that Al is alive and is coming home. Sam smiles as she breaks into tears of joy. The music swells as a black and white picture of a youthful Al can be seen... but then his image is suddenly surrounded by the blue aura of electrical energy, just as Sam’s was! Instead of a new Leap, there is nothing but an ominous darkness...
As a result of Sam’s revelation, Beth never remarried. She and Al have four daughters, and will celebrate their 39th wedding anniversary in June. Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home. |
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Personal Review by TVNewsCam: Mirror Image is an incredibly powerful episode, where Sam has to face the toughest question of all... who is really Leaping him around in time. He is so set in his way of thinking that he refuses to see the truth that is in front of his face the entire time, or rather looking back at him from the mirror. The holes in Sam’s swiss-cheese memory doesn’t seem to be as prominent as in certain episodes, as Sam seems to easily recall names, faces, and events that he has encountered during his various Leaps. Also, like any regular Leap, there are lives to save, and it seems to pain Sam that he cannot play a direct part in the rescue. All he can do is settle for an indirect role and pray for the best. The scenes at Project Quantum Leap were immensely enjoyable, especially the first images of the interior of the Imaging Chamber, as well as the banter between Al and Gooshie. It’s just a shame that more of the Project and it’s staff could not be shown. The episode hits a few snags in the road when it starts to get into the heavy-duty coincidences and tries to explain what is going on. For the casual viewer, they will probably become easily confused and lose interest. Die-hard Quantum Leap fans, however, will easily pick up on the underlying message. Deborah Pratt knew that there was a chance that the show could be canceled or renewed for another season. That final call was up to the networks, and Don wanted to leap Sam home, but she cleverly hid some hope into the show itself by convincing Don to leave Sam out there. The message was, no matter what happened, Sam would always be out there, Leaping and putting right what once went wrong. |
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Music: Some swing music in the episode waas used before in "The Leap Back" and "Ghost Ship." "Georgia On My Mind" by Ray Charles |
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Project
Trivia: The interior of the Imaging Chamber, and what Al sees/experiences when they are attempting to get a lock, is shown for the first time. The last time the Imaging Chamber was shown, it was in The Leap Back. That view was from the ramp leading to the control room, and after a lock had already been established and the Observer (in that case Sam) was in contact with the Leaper (Al). The fact that alarms Al and Gooshie is the fact that there is nobody in the Waiting Room. In the past, there had always been someone in there when Sam had Leaped into someone. |
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Sam Trivia: Future elements Sam introduced into the past: Terms – Downs Syndrome, mental disability, physically disabled, Captain Galaxy Outfits worn: White shirt, brown slacks, and (occasionally) a hat Sam Leaps into the bar at the exact moment of his birth. Sam's New
Mexico drivers licence number is 5738457 and was issued August 2, 1995,
so he Leaped at some point after this date. Sam is 6 feet
tall and weights 175 pounds. He lives in Stallions Springs, New Mexico with a P.O. Box #555. At the end of the episode, Sam's last name is spelled incorrectly with only one "T" as in Sam Becket instead of the correct spelling Sam Beckett. |
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Al Trivia: |
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Miscellaneous Trivia: There was no saga sell to introduce the episode - it went straight into the Leap-in. The original theme song from seasons one through four was used instead of the updated "rock version" at the vote of fans at Leap Con 1993. The clips during the theme song are the ones from season four. Donald Bellasario called this "a gift to the fans", as the revamped 5th season theme was not universally loved. Along with Scott Bakula (Sam), Dean Stockwell (Al), and Dennis Wolfberg (Gooshie), Bruce McGill is the only actor to appear in both the pilot and finale, though as a different character. Nearly all the supporting guest stars in this episode appeared in previous episodes. When the Bartender states “Who knows what Don Quixote can accomplish?”, this likely refers to Sam's time as the title character in "Man of La Mancha" from the episode "Catch a Falling Star." The bar was created to exact detail by the set builders under direct supervision of Don Bellisario. It was his fathers bar down to every detail. The photo of the Bartender sticking out his belly is Don's father. Don remembers, “I recreated, as perfectly as possible, the bar that my dad owned in a coalmining town called Cokeburg Pennsylvania in 1953 where I was a young man. I recreated people from the town, I had actors portray them, I told them how their accents were, how they spoke, what they did, and they were portraying the people that I remember. The actor that I picked to play my dad looks so much like my dad.” The pinball machine in the front corner of the bar is a Gottlieb 'Baseball' which was first released in June 1970, 17 years after the episode takes place. The pinball machine was previously seen in "Memphis Melody". |
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See the
real town
of Cokeburg!
See the real town of Cokeburg! 2005 photos courtesy of our friend Dave. During the credits, a photo of Donald P. Bellisario's father holding him as a young boy in front of an airplace is shown. Two alternate endings
for this episode are known to have been scripted in case the series was
renewed for another season, both of which included a present-day scene
between Al and Beth, having remained married in the new timeline,
discussing needing to find Sam again. Production stills were found in
February 2018 and film footage was found in May 2019 showing that at
least one of these endings was filmed. A third, simpler alternate
ending was also produced, showing a family photo of Al and Beth with
their four daughters instead of the ending title cards. Source |
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Kiss
With History: |
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Regular
Cast: Scott Bakula – Dr. Samuel Beckett Dean Stockwell – Rear Admiral Albert Calavicci |
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Guest
Stars: |
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Bruce
McGill as Al the
Bartender: Bruce McGill grew up in San
Antonio, Texas. His mother, Adriel Rose (Jacobs) is an artist, and his
father, Woodrow Wilson McGill, is a real estate and insurance agent. He
graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School San Antonio, where he
acted in the department of theatre, and from The University of Texas at
Austin with a degree in drama. His love for acting stems back to
elementary school. He is related to former Texas State Senator A.R.
Schwartz. McGill has starred in many films. His role as "D-Day" in
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), taken out of desperation as a
young unemployed actor, ended up being his most well known. His long
acting career also includes films, Wildcats, The Last Boy Scout, My
Cousin Vinny, Cliffhanger, Timecop, The Legend of Bagger Vance, The Sum
of All Fears, along with many others. McGill starred in many television
roles, including portraying the Boston Police Homicide Detective Vince
Korsak on the TNT television crime drama, Rizzoli & Isles. The
character of Korsak is the mentor and friend of Detective Jane Rizzoli,
portrayed by Angie Harmon. Director Michael Mann,considers McGill a
favorite, having worked with him on The Insider, Ali and Collateral. He
has also appeared in four HBO TV films, CIA Director George Tenet in
Oliver Stone's film W and, also, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton in
Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. McGill has been married to his wife Gloria
since 1994. Richard Herd as Simo "Ziggy" Ziganovich (also Servanovich): Born on September 26, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts, he was the son of Katherine (Lydon) and Richard Herd, a railroad engineer and WWII vet, who died when the boy was quite young. The younger Herd suffered from bone marrow cancer which affected the growth of his legs as a child. As a result, he was educated at the Industrial School for Crippled Children during his formative years. Luckily, loving care and several operations saved his legs from deformity. Making a highly inauspicious film debut in the minor role of a coach in the film, Hercules in New York (1970), which was the showcase debut for the massively-muscled Arnold Schwarzenegger, Richard didn't settle in Hollywood, until the mid 1970s, after replacing actor Richard Long (who died before filming began) in the role of Watergate figure James McCord in All the President's Men (1976). Although Richard made a handful of other movies throughout the rest of the decade (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977), F.I.S.T. (1978), The China Syndrome (1979), The Onion Field (1979)), he appeared with much more frequency on TV, playing stern, authoritarian types on episodes of Kojak (1973), The Rockford Files (1974), The Streets of San Francisco (1972) (starring the similar-looking Karl Malden), Rafferty (1977), Eight Is Enough (1977) and Starsky and Hutch (1975), as well as in the TV movies Pueblo (1973), Captains and the Kings (1976), The Hunted Lady (1977), Dr. Scorpion (1978), Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid (1978), Terror Out of the Sky (1978), Marciano (1979) and, most notably, Ike: The War Years (1979), in which he portrayed General Omar Bradley. Never finding the one support role that might have made him a character star, Richard nevertheless was featured impressively on all three mediums for over four decades. On stage, he appeared in a pre-Broadway tryout of "On the Waterfront" and played, to great applause, in productions of "Other People's Money" and "The Big Knife". His finest hour on stage, however, would come with his portrayal of the epic film producer in the one-man show "Cecil B. DeMille Presents", which he has toured throughout the country. On TV, Richard has guested on most of the popular TV programs of late, including Desperate Housewives (2004) and CSI: Miami (2002) and is probably best remembered for his recurring roles as "Admiral Noyce" on SeaQuest 2032 (1993), as Jason Alexander's boss "Wilhelm" in the sitcom classic, Seinfeld (1989), and as "Admiral Owen Paris" in Star Trek: Voyager (1995). A few of his lightweight cinematic crowd-pleasers include Private Benjamin (1980), Deal of the Century (1983), Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) and Sgt. Bilko (1996). More recently, he also had a memorable bit in the Oscar-winning horror film Get Out (2017). Married briefly at the age of 19, Richard remarried and had two children (Richard Jr. and Erica) by his second wife. That marriage also ended in divorce, but his third (in 1980), to actress Patricia Herd (Patricia Crowder Ruskin), lasted. Patricia has a daughter from an earlier marriage. Making his final film appearances in the Clint Eastwood vehicle The Mule (2018) and the baseball biopic The Silent Natural (2019), Richard was diagnosed with cancer and died on May 26, 2020, at age 87. William Morgan Sheppard as Gooshie, the miner: William Sheppard was born and raised in London, England to an Anglo-Irish family. He is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He was an Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company for 12 years. He appeared on Broadway in 1966 with "Marat-Sade" and later in 1975 with "Sherlock Holmes". He won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award for "The Homecoming" in 1995, at the Matrix Theatre. He voiced the narrator in the popular computer game Civilization 5. Incisive, deep-voiced stage and screen character actor William Morgan Sheppard has been a specialist in off-beat portrayals, notably in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. A 1958 RADA graduate, he spent twelve years as an associate artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Prior to that, he sold building equipment, served in the Merchant Navy and wanted to be a stand-up comedian. Sheppard's screen career began modestly in British television, running the gamut of standard supporting roles in crime series like The Sweeney (1975), Z Cars (1962) and The Professionals (1977). Crossing the Atlantic to gain more 'visibility', he appeared on Broadway in Marat/Sade (reprising an earlier film role) and (a decade later) in Sherlock Holmes (then billed simply as 'Morgan Sheppard'). He made his American screen breakthrough in the role of post-apocalyptic punk outlaw disc jockey Blank Reg in the cult science fiction hit and subsequent series Max Headroom (1985) (for which he adopted a Mohawk haircut). That role, he later said, changed his career. It also defined a type of screen persona he would tend to favour down the track: possibly dangerous, certainly cantankerous, grizzled and perhaps vaguely droll. He preferred played villains and made up for his lack of height by "playing them smart". In a 2008 interview, he remarked that mini-cabbing in South London in the early 70s "got pretty hairy sometimes, but it was great experience because I could use that stuff. I know how to play psychopaths". A recurring player in the Star Trek franchise, Sheppard has appeared as the cyberneticist Dr. Ira Graves; as a revenge-seeking Delta quadrant alien; as a Vulcan dignitary and (in his words) as the smallest ever Klingon. He also played a sinister Soul Hunter in Babylon 5 (1993) (a role he particularly appreciated because J. Michael Straczynski allowed him to 'run with' the character), a holographic professor in SeaQuest 2032 (1993) and the older incarnation of an-ex FBI agent helping to defeat The Silence in the sixth season of the Doctor Who (2005) relaunch. The actor's real-life son, Mark Sheppard (a top character actor in his own right, certainly best known as the snarky demon Crowley in Supernatural (2005)) played the younger version of the same individual. Father and son appeared together on several other occasions, including in an episode of NCIS (2003), and as -- respectively -- the older and younger Captain Nemo in Jules Verne's Mysterious Island (2010). Sheppard senior was one of just two non-American actors to be cast in the historical dramas Gettysburg (1993) and Gods and Generals (2003) (as Confederate General Isaac Trimble). More recent high profile roles have included theatrical impresario Merrit in The Prestige (2006), a senile priest who absolves Dexter (2006) of his sins and -- perhaps incongruously -- as the titular Kris Kringle in Farewell Mr. Kringle (2010). Sheppard has also been a prolific voice-over actor for animation and video games and has performed in radio plays with Los Angeles Theatre Works. He had latterly taught acting techniques at The Director's Playhouse in Los Angeles. William Morgan Sheppard died on January 6 2019 in LA at the age of 86. Stephen
McHattie as
Stawpah: Stephen McHattie was born on February 3, 1947
in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is an actor and director, known
for Pontypool (2008), The Fountain (2006) and Watchmen (2009). He is
married to Lisa Houle. They have three children. He was previously
married to Meg Foster. Perhaps his most famous appearance is in the
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) episode "In the Pale Moonlight,"
where he plays Romulan Senator Vreenak, who Captain Sisko, Avery
Brooks, attempts to dupe into believing that the Dominion is about to
invade his homeland. That episode is considered by many to be one of
Star Trek's finest and his hissing delivery of the line "It's a FAKE!",
regarding the recording Sisko provided, is especially popular. Bears a
striking resemblance to actor Lance Henriksen, with whom he is often
confused. They both appeared on an episode of the '80s TV show Beauty
and the Beast (1987) called "Snow". He is the only actor to appear in
Beauty and the Beast (1987) and its remake Beauty and the Beast (2012).
He played Gabriel in the former and Mr. Zalman in the latter. His
acting mentor was the late Eli Wallach. Of Scottish and Irish descent.
Brooding actor of the 1970s with sunken
cheeks best known for his role of James Dean in the 1976 mini-movie
which co-starred ex-wife Meg Foster. Also played the evil Gabriel in
the TV series Beauty and the Beast (1987). Graduated from the American
Academy of Dramatic Arts when he was 21.
Has appeared in episodes of two different series with Scott Bakula in
which he played a character involved in mining: he played a Russian
miner named Stawpah in the Quantum Leap (1989) series finale "Mirror
Image" and an alien mine foreman in the Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
episode "The Xindi". Worked opposite Avery Brooks twice: first as the
villain Corbett in Brother to Dragons (1986) and then as Romulan
Senator Vreenak in In the Pale Moonlight (1998). Alumnus of the AADA
(American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1968. Frequently cast in
the films of Bruce McDonald. Watch this clip of Stephen in Seinfeld -
his part begins about 3 minutes in: Michael
Genovese as
Mr. Collins: Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, Mike Genovese
taught acting at Webster College from 1969 to 1973. There, he also
began his professional acting career with the Lorreto Hilton Repertory
Theatre, now the St. Louis Repertory Theatre. While performing in
Washington, D.C., he met his future and present wife, TV/film actress
Ellen Crawford. His career continued after he moved to Chicago and
later Los Angeles. A veteran character actor, Genovese has appeared in
many films such as two Richard Pryor billed vehicles: "Jo Jo Dancer,
Your Life Is Calling" (1986) and "Harlem Knights", which also
co-starred Eddie Murphy, Redd Foxx and Della Reese, and guest roles on
TV series such as "The Dukes of Hazzard", "Star Trek:The Next
Generation", "Family Matters", "NYPD Blue", "Quantum Leap", "Arli$$",
"ER", Chicago Hope" and "JAG", just to mention a few. For "ER", the
long-running medical drama which airs on NBC, Genovese appeared in a
recurring role as Officer Al Grabarsky, where he appeared opposite his
real life wife, actress Ellen Crawford, who was as cast regular as
Nurse Lydia Wright, his character's girlfriend. He appeared in twelve
episodes of the series from 1994 through 2000. In 1979, Mike had a
notable performance as Philip Marlowe at Chicago's Organic Theater in
Stuart Gordon directed adaptation of Raymond Chandler's "The Little
Sister." In 2005, he appeared as Rev. Tollhouse in "The Book of Liz"
play by Amy Sedaris and David Sedaris at the 2nd Stage Theatre,
Hollywood.
James Whitmore Jr. as Police Captain: James Whitmore Jr. was born on October 24, 1948 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and actor, known for Black Sheep Squadron (1976), Hunter (1984) and Tequila and Bonetti (1992). He has been married to Salesha Ali since March 28, 1972. They have four children. Played Capt. Jim Gutterman in Black Sheep Squadron for the first season but was not in the Second Season (no explanation given as to why or what happened to his character). Has directed Scott Bakula in episodes of four different series: Quantum Leap (1989), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996), Star Trek: Enterprise (2001), and NCIS: New Orleans (2014).He directed his father James Whitmore in Home for Christmas (1985). James Whitmore, Jr. has directed 15 episodes (counting the multi-part episodes) of Quantum Leap.
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Guests
who appeared in other Quantum Leap episodes: Bruce McGill as Weird Ernie in "Genesis" John D’Aquino as Frank LaMotta in "Jimmy" and "Deliver Us From Evil" Brad Silverman as Jimmy LaMotta in "Jimmy" and "Deliver Us From Evil" Richard Herd as Moe Stein in "Future Boy" Susan Diol
as
Beth Calavicci in "M.I.A." and in several
episodes of the 2022 revival series. James Whitmore Jr. as Bob Crockett in "8 ½ Months", as Clayton Fuller (mirror image) in "One Little Heart – Trilogy, Part I." Donald P. Bellisario as Dr. Mintz (mirror image) in "A Portrait for Troian" Michael Genovese as Don Geno in "Double Identity" J.D. Daniels as Josh Elroy in "A Tale of Two Sweeties" Dan Butler as Jake Dorleac in "Southern Comforts" Michael Bellisario as Little Boy in "Camakazi Kid", as Billy the bat boy in "Play Ball" and as Martin Jr. in "Tale of Two Sweeties" |
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Familiar Faces From Al the Bartender to Don Bellisario himself, here are the characters they previously played throughout the series. |
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Say What? Bartender Al offers Sam the choice of 'regular or schooner' glasses. The glass referred to as a schooner is in fact a Pilsner. Schooner glasses have a broad rimmed, round body with a short thick stem, whereas pilsner glasses have a tall, constant angle tapered shape. The pinball
machine in the front corner of the bar was first released in June 1970,
17 years after the
episode takes place. The episode of "Captain Z-Ro" was not shown until 1954. In the
sports section of the newspaper, there is an article about an RKO radio
license. When the bearded Gooshie is talking about how Stawpah was the only miner who came out alive, he mentions something about slate on his back, but if you watch closely, his mouth doesn’t actually match the word slate. It looks as if he’s saying "stone." The same thing happens when Sam is talking as well. Another
audio dub flub! As Sam is realizing
that he can’t go home because he has a wrong to put right, the words
that we hear is "for Al," but again the mouth doesn’t quite match the
words. It looks as if he’s saying "first." Al says he doesn't know what Sam looks like when he Leaps. However in "Good Morning, Peoria" when he starts to glow blue from the electrical interference on the roof, he states that "I'm gonna Leap!" He has made references to knowing what it looks like in a few other episodes. In Animal Frat, after telling Sam how to complete his mission and leap, he makes an electrical sizzling sound and motions with his hand to imply it passing through Sam's body. The Imaging Chamber door does not operate in accordance with what has previously been seen when Al enters and exits. It's slower opening and closing and larger. Since he
didn't leap into anyone but himself in this episode, the
clothes he's wearing, including his wallet with his (expired) driver's
license, must have materialized from storage or somewhere, since the
project would not have dressed him that way with people leaping in and
out over five years. What happened to the Fermi Suit or white lab coat
we've seen other leapees wearing in the Waiting Room? Did it leap into
a closet somewhere? The photo of Al in Beth’s house is not the same one shown in "M.I.A." "Georgia On
My Mind" was not released until 1960. In
the final screen of the episode, Sam's last name is mis-spelled
"Becket." This was an error broadcast only in certain areas of the
United States but is now presented in every digital form currently
available without correction. What happened to Sam Beckett in the years after Mirror Image? Perhaps the video below will give us some "Say What?" answers:
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I was born
roughly the same time I came through
that door. Gooshie,
this isn't working, I'm getting dizzy! Whatever
Sam's drinking, I'll have one! Suppose you
were a priest. Sometimes,
that's the way it is. That too. Not much of
a looker, huh? Hang on. Stawpah was
a leaper! Where would
you like to go, Sam? God Bless,
Sam. You let too
much time go by and you could lose
touch with reality. I know an Al
who says ca-ca. Sometimes
'that's the way it is' is the best
explanation. ...the lives
you touched, touched others, and
those, others. You've done a lot of good Sam Beckett, and you can do a
lot more. Sam, you
will only do this as long as you want
to. Whatever it
takes, I'll get you out of this. You're not
just a bartender. Beth never
remarried. |
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Best Lines: There’s actually two which I think falls into the category of best line. I just couldn’t decide between them. The first is funny, and the second is an extremely powerful allusion that Sam is still out there, Leaping around in time, setting right what once went wrong. Al: Gooshie,
I’m gonna ralph. Al the bartender: ...the lives you touched, touched others, and those, others. You've done a lot of good Sam Beckett, and you can do a lot more. |
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Any scene that featured the interior of the Imaging Chamber were superbly done. Typically, most hologram scenes were filmed in front of a blue or green screen, depending on what the individual was wearing. That screen was edited out and replaced electronically by the scene that had already been filmed. In this case, the blue screen was a perfect compliment for the previously seen Waiting Room, and still allowed the swirling special effects to be integrated. Another scene, which also fits that category, comes at the end when Sam finds himself in Beth’s living room and tells her that Al is alive and coming home. The emotion is so powerful that you can practically feel it radiating through the television screen! The Leap effect on Al’s picture is perfect symbolism of what was possibly to come in future episodes, had the network not canceled the series. |
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Read the official script for "Mirror Image" with two alternate endings!
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Alternate
Endings:
To read the alternate endings, look above for the script. Filmed alternate ending #1 - Photo of Al Leaps
into photo of his family: Filmed alternate ending #2 - Beth and Al talk
about finding Sam: |
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Fan Fiction, Novel, Essays, and More!
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A beautiful piano cover
of Suite
From The Leap Home
Set to the final scene from "Mirror Image" by Bullbayliss Music. |
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Opening title cell for Mirror Image All of the titles and credits for Quantum Leap were done by taking a black cell and cutting out the letters for each title. Then they would put the cell on a white backlit background. Then they shot it with a video camera, then with a modern linear switcher they did a simple "key" to cut out the shape (in other words take anything that's white and keep that shape), then they added the tint and drop shadow with the switcher as well. Presto....credits. Thanks to Matt Dale for the high-res photos! |
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Production Credits: Theme by: Mike Post During the credits, a photo of Donald P.
Bellisario's father holding him as a young boy in front of an airplace
is shown.
Executive Producer: Donald
P. Bellisario Panaflex ® Camera and
Lenses by: Panavision ® |
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Visit the Mirror Imaging page of Al's Place for even more info on the series finale! |
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Podcasts: Forget everything you think you know about Leaping and belly up to the bar; it’s time for Mirror Image. Join hosts Allison Pregler, Matt Dale and Christopher DeFilippis for a deep dive into Quantum Leap’s infamously controversial, confusing and heart-breaking series finale. We talk GTFW, dubious doppelgängers, and debate Sam’s ultimate fate. Listen to The Quantum Leap Podcast on this episode here: Let us know what you think… Leave us a voicemail by calling (707)847-6682. 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 |
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