Screencaps
Click to enlarge
4x09 "A Single Drop of Rain"








































































































.

.
Leap Date:
September 7, 1953

Episode Adopted by: MikeKraken & Stacie Wilcox
Additional info provided by: Brian Greene

Teaser:

Returning home to a drought-ridden hometown, Sam has become a traveling rainmaker. His brother thinks he is a joke and his sister-in-law wants to leave with Sam. All Sam has to do...is make it rain! (And maybe even keep his host's brother and wife together.)


Audio from this episode:

Al: You're the physics expert!


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

Production # 67317

TV Guide Teaser:

Sam drops into a huckster who's promised to bring rain to his drought-ridden town, and maybe also part the clouds in his brother's dreary marriage. Annie: Phyllis Lyons. Ralph: Patrick Massett. Coutis: Britt Leach. Clinton: Carl Anthony Payne II.

Place:

Clover Bend, Texas

Leap Date:

September 7, 1953

Name of the Person Leaped Into:

Doctor William "Billy" Beaumont PhD, professional "rain maker"

Broadcast Date:

November 20, 1991 - Wednesday

Synopsis & Review:

Sam leaps in driving an overheating car as he pulls into a gas station. The attendant (Vernon Coutis) is excited to see him, calling him Billy Beaumont. The whole town has been praying for him to get here, to make it rain. Sam reads the side of his truck - "Dr. William Beaumont - Purveyor of precipitation, and maker of rain" Oh boy!


Vern takes Sam and his apprentice Clinton into town and shows him off to Velma, who immediately tries to kiss sam. Vern tells her to leave him alone, and brings him into a store to see Gracie, his mom. Sam gets a look in the mirror. Vern calls Billy an important scientist, and suggests that he caused a flood in Louisiana. Clinton confirms this is true, because Billy went overboard on the silver iodine.

As they leave the store, a crowd has formed to see Billy. Velma takes another pass at him, and Annie gives him a kiss. We then learn from Mr. Davison that she is his sister in law. He asks Sam if he can really make it rain, and before Sam can answer, Billy’s brother Ralph comes along and says of course he can’t.

Sam tries to tell the town that he in fact cannot make it rain, but Clinton goes into a sales pitch about the marvels of modern science. Al comes and listens along. Ziggy says it's not going to rain here for 8 months, 1 week, 4 days, 2 hours, and 44 minutes.

Sam sits down to dinner with the Beaumont family. We learn that Billy didn’t come home for his father’s funeral 7 years ago. Annie wants to hear stories about all of the places Billy has been. Ralph excuses himself to do the books. Grace brings out the scrapbook of all of the stops on Billy’s journey for them to reminisce about.

Sam heads to the barn to look at the stuff on his truck. He tells Al that he’s leaped into a genuine criminal. Ziggy says he has all of the right ingredients - silver and iodide. Apparently some guy made it snow in the 40s using them. Sam gets hopeful that maybe they can bring this town rain, but Al is now poo-pooing the idea. Sam wants to know what he is here for then, if not to make it rain. He thinks they can use their future tech to make it rain, but Al says that the organization that is doing cutting edge research on meteorology won’t share their secrets. Sam is convinced they can make it work.

They are interrupted by Annie who wants to know who Sam was talking to. She asks about some gadget on Sam’s truck, and he says it's a microwave oven. Sam says it’s beautiful here and she says she hates it. She doesn’t want to listen to the cicadas anymore. She says her husband is boring and doesn’t want to go anywhere. She says she spent two nights with Billy and she hasn’t had that much excitement in her whole eight years of marriage. She compared seeing Billy again to a new color tv.

Mr. Davison buys 11 staples, and Sam tries upselling him to an even dozen. But he says he can’t afford the extra three cents for something he doesn’t need. He puts the 33 cent charge on his tab and says he can settle up after it rains and he makes some money on his cattle. Sam is amazed there is no ramp for his wheelchair. Then he commends Ralph for selling to him on credit, but Ralph says he doesn’t have a choice - they all have to look out for each other. Ralph expresses that he doesn’t want Sam giving people false hope.

Outside, Clinton is on another sales pitch, collecting $250 payments to make it rain. Sam tells them that he won’t take their money. But Davison says he’ll pay anything to make it rain and the town agrees.

Sam gets on board, and tells the men to start firing the town’s cannon day and night until it rains. Clinton says they will need some 50 gallon drums to seed the clouds. Sam tells Grace to throw the biggest picnic the town has ever had - because it always rains on a picnic.

Sam expresses regret to Al for his theatrics as soon as the crowd disperses. Ziggy says that in the original history when Billy left, he took his sister in law Annie with him, and there is an 88% chance Sam is here to keep her and Ralph together.

Grace tells Sam she is glad her sons are under one roof again. They talk about Ralph and Annie. She asks Sam if he still loves Annie. He says no.

A crown of men from town gather. Norm says he doesn’t have $250, so he offers Sam 3 chickens, and says he’ll give him 2 more every month and a pig in the spring.

Sam calls for Al to get here fast, and someone tells Sam he needs to work on his prayers. Sam stalls by showing appreciation for his assistant Clinton. He tells Clinton to prepare the cloud seeding solution for him today. Clinton pulls him aside in objection, saying Billy has never done it the same way twice. So Sam takes over. He says they will begin with the silver iodide, as Al suggested earlier. But Sam uses Iodine and stirs it with a silver ford. Clinton doesn’t think this method is very conventional, even though he already said Billy has never done it the same way twice. He gives Sam a bottle of Silver Iodide, a different thing than iodine.

Sam has the men start bringing supplies over to a field (helium and crates of balloons). Sam sends Clifton off to work with them so he can talk to Al. Al was up all night with a secretary from MIT trying to get the recipe for cloud seeding. He has Sam mix Silver Iodide, hydrochloric acid, and acetone

They pour the solution into Quaker Oats tubs and release them into their air by helium balloons. The town has their picnic. Al is jealous of the food because where he comes from there is a cholesterol control act. Annie complains about Ralph some more. Sam compares him to the foundation of a building. Al likes the analogy but Annie didn’t take much away from it. Ralph overhears Sam talking to himself about Annie running away. Understandably, he doesn’t like what he hears and accuses Sam of being crazy.

Ralph tells the town this won’t work. Sam tells them to have faith. Miracles can happen. Ralph tries taking Annie home, but she refuses to go with him.

Clinton asks Sam what they are going to do now. He says this is about the time they usually move on. Sam tells him he is a no good snake oil salesman, and wants to know why Clinton is following him. He says he is waiting for “someday”, when Billy said this will work and he’ll settle down and give the business to Clinton.

Sam pleads to GFTW, he does everything he is supposed to do, but he doesn’t know how to make it rain and needs some help. "You make it rain. Do you hear me? You make it rain!"

At home, Al tells Sam there is no news about rain, and there is an 81% chance that Annie is going to leave, with or without Billy. Sam goes to her and tells her she can’t leave. He tells her that the feelings she feels for him aren’t real, and she needs to put her energy into what she has that is real. He tells her that he doesn’t love her.

Ralph catches them hugging and tells Sam he can have her. Sam asks him when the last time he did anything for her. Ralph expresses some jealousy towards Billy. Sam tries to get him to say that he hates Billy or that he loves Annie. Instead, Ralph ends up punching Sam through the porch railing. They have a fist fight. Grace comes out to watch with Annie. Sam tricks Ralph into expressing how much he loves his wife, ever since the 2nd grade.

Annie gets what she needs, having seen her husband express how much she means to him and fight for her. The sounds of the cannon turns to sounds of thunder. Sam falls to the ground as Ralph and Annie embrace, and it starts raining. Al plays Captain Obvious and tells Sam it’s raining. Clifton comes in excitedly, and Sam tells him “Someday” is here! The whole town arrives and celebrates. Sam and Ralph shake hands. Ralph asks him to stay with them. Sam leaps. Synopsis by Stacie Wilcox

Personal Review by MikeKraken:

I never really thought of this episode as being too profound... but then I watched it this time to make this episode summary, and found that it is really quite well done. The prayer scene is my favourite (see below) because of the insight to Sam's character, but the fight scene is interesting, too... I find that every time I watch, I forget about the thunder in the background and am distracted by Sam and Ralph duking it out. I'm sure that some thought was put into that.

This episode is on the lighter side, and would fall mostly into the "comedy" category as far as episodes go. The only really serious parts involve Ralph chastising his brother, and, of course, the physical fight at the end.

Neatest of all, it rained!

Music:

At the picnic, after Sam's "foundation" analogy, a tune that has appeared in a handful of other '50s episodes, first appearing in "8½ Months" (plays in the end credits), then "Heart of a Champion" (at the bar), "Stand Up", and "Memphis Melody".

"Sam's Prayer", composed by Velton Ray Bunch and lasting 1m 52s appears on the official soundtrack album.


Project Trivia:

Handlink: colorful cubes/gummy bear

There is a law governing cholesterol in Al's present.

Sam Trivia:

We're reminded that Sam grew up on a farm, where people depend heavily on the weather.

Al Trivia:

At the picnic, Al hadn't seen such food since they passed the "cholesterol control act".

Al's Women:

Al sleeps with a woman from M.I.T. to gather information on how to make it rain.

Al's Outfits Worn in the Episode:

First appearance: poppy-red suit coat; poppy-red dress pants; black belt with silver buckle; brown-patterned dress shirt; black thin tie; watch with black band; unlit cigar.

Second and third appearance: bluish suit coat with glossy trims and arms; white dress shirt; same black thin tie; unlit cigar.

Fourth, fifth, and sixth appearance: red suit coat; red-and-white patterened dress shirt; rectangular pendant on left breast, white with red triangles alternating vertically; lit cigar; silver thin tie; glossy black pants.

Miscellaneous Trivia:

According to Ziggy, it would be another eight months, one week, four days, two hours, and forty-four minutes until Clover Bend would see rain again.

Can humans make it rain? Yes. See below:

Regular Cast:

Scott Bakula as Sam Beckett
Dean Stockwell as Al Calavicci

Guest Stars:

Phyllis Lyons as Annie Klebbard Beaumont
Patrick Massett as Ralph Beaumont
Carl Anthony Payne II as Clinton Leveret
Britt Leach as Vernon Coutis
R. G. Armstrong as Davison
Anne Haney as Grace Beaumont
Hal Landon, Jr. as Norm
Lesly Kahn as Velma Waters
Ted Baader as Billy Beaumont (Mirror Image)

Guest Cast Notes:

Phyllis Lyons as Annie Klebbard Beaumont: Phyllis Lyons was born on August 20, 1960 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. She is an actress, known for The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Donnie Darko (2001) and Quantum Leap (1989). She has been married to Adam Arkin since August 21, 1998. They have one child.

Patrick Massett as Ralph Beaumont: Patrick Massett co-wrote Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) starring Angelina Jolie. His television career began with Veritas: The Quest (2003) at ABC, which he and his partner John Zinman, Co-Created and Executive Produced. He then went on to Co-Executive Produce Emmy Award Winning, Friday Night Lights (2006) at NBC, The Chicago Code (2011) at FOX, and Last Resort (2012) at ABC with Executive Producer Shawn Ryan. He Co-Executive Produced The Blacklist (2013) starring James Spader at NBC. Patrick was an Executive Producer/Showrunner at NBC's The Player (2015) starring Wesley Snipes. Alongside his partner, John Zinman, Patrick co-wrote Gold (2016) starring Matthew McConaughey, directed by Stephen Gaghan. Patrick and John served as show runners on Last Light for Peacock starring Matthew Fox. They also penned Wind River Rising, the sequel to the critically acclaimed, Wind River, which is scheduled to be released in late 2023.

Carl Anthony Payne II as Clinton Leveret: Carl Anthony Payne II is an American actor, director, and producer. He is best known for his roles as Cole Brown on the Fox sitcom Martin (1992), Walter "Cockroach" Bradley on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984), and Myles Wilson on the Nickelodeon show Young Dylan (2020). He often tours as part of comedy shows throughout the United States. Auditioned for the role of Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show (1984) that eventually went to Malcolm-Jamal Warner. A second audition landed him the recurring role of Theo's friend Cockroach.



Britt Leach as Vernon Coutis: Chubby and engaging character actor Britt Leach was born on July 18, 1938 in Gadsden, Alabama. Leach was often cast as no-nonsense police officers, scruffy everyday blue collar working class types, and crude hillbillies in both movies and TV shows alike. Britt graduated from the McCallie prep school in 1956. He was active in college theater. Leach graduated from Birmingham Southern College in the mid 60s. He attended Northwestern University for a short spell, but eventually dropped out and briefly worked in Army intelligence. His film and television career started in the early 70s. Leach's most memorable movie roles include boorish hick bartender Dan Oldum in the terrific "Jackson County Jail," hard-nosed detective Sergeant Cook in "Night Warning," cranky toy store manager Mr. Sims in the notorious sicko Santa slasher horror flick "Silent Night, Deadly Night," trailer park resident Mr. Potter in the charming "The Last Starfighter," Anthony Michael Hall's plumber father in the hilariously raucous "Weird Science," and redneck hunter Reg in "The Great Outdoors." Among the many TV shows Britt has made guest appearances on are "Quantom Leap," "Coach," "Murder, She Wrote," "L.A. Law," "Tales from the Crypt," "Amazing Stories," "St. Elsewhere," "Fame," "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Hill Street Blues," "Dallas," "M.A.S.H.," "The Waltons," "Wonder Woman," "The Love Boat," "Sanford and Son," "Happy Days," "Mission: Impossible," "Bonanza," "The Partridge Family," and "The Brady Bunch." Leach called it a day as an actor in the early 90s. From 1992 to 1999 Britt was the co-editor and publisher of "Country Connections," an award-winning bi-monthly magazine which covered environmental and progressive social issues. Leach has also written poems. Britt Leach resides in Sherman Oaks, California with his wife Catherine Roberts Leach.

R. G. Armstrong as Davison: A golden career was reflected in his name. Robert Golden Armstrong ("Bob" to his friends) was born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 7, 1917. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While there, he was frequently performing on stage with the Carolina Playmakers. After graduating, R.G. headed to New York, where his acting career really took off. In 1953, along with many of his Actors Studio buddies, he was part of the cast of "End As a Man" -- this became the first play to go from off-Broadway to Broadway. The following year, R.G. got his first taste of movies, appearing in Garden of Eden (1954). However, he returned to New York and the live stage. He received great reviews for his portrayal of Big Daddy in the Broadway production of "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" in 1955. In 1958, R.G. took the plunge to Hollywood -- he appeared in two movies, a television series, and did numerous guest appearances on television series that year, usually in Westerns such as The Rifleman (1958), Have Gun - Will Travel (1957) and Zane Grey Theatre (1956), among others. He would go on to appear in 80 movies and three television series in his career, and guest-starred in 90 television series, many of them Westerns, often as a tough sheriff or a rugged land baron. R.G. was a regular cast member in the television series T.H.E. Cat (1966), playing tough, one-handed Captain MacAllister. During the filming of Steel (1979) in Kentucky, watching the mammoth Kincaid Tower being built, he made some good friends in the cast: "You become a family on the set," he said in an interview at the time. Even though he had a long, versatile career, the younger generation knows him as the demonic Lewis Vandredi (pronounced VON-drah-dee), who just would not let the main characters have a good night's sleep on the television series Friday the 13th: The Series (1987). Finally retiring after six successful decades in show business -- his last film appearance was Purgatory (1999) -- R.G. and his lovely wife Mary Craven were mostly just enjoying life in California, and still traveled and vacationed in Europe occasionally. His upbeat, fun-loving personality made him a delight for all who came in contact with him. R.G. Armstrong died at age 95 of natural causes in Studio City, California on July 27, 2012.

Anne Haney as Grace Beaumont: Anne Haney held prominent roles acting on stage, on the screen, and on TV. All these achievements came in her mid-40s, after she had raised a daughter and buried a husband. It wasn't until after she had packed her daughter off to college and "the maid quit", as she said, that she decided to try her hand at acting. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee and studied drama, radio and TV at the University of North Carolina, where she met her husband, John Haney. She did apply her schooling briefly at a Memphis television station, but soon settled down with her husband and devoted herself to family life. "I was a lovely faculty wife. We made ambrosia salad. We did good works. We played a lot of bridge", she said of those times. By the 1970s, however, Haney began seeking work in local theatre productions and television commercials. Soon, she was traveling with a touring company performing as the maid in Noël Coward's "Fallen Angels". She toured for two years. Eventually, she joined the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of T.V. and Radio Artists. She and her husband had, in fact, planned to move to Southern California after his retirement. She was eager to experience and, she hoped, benefit from the variety and prestige available only in Hollywood. Those plans changed when Mr. Haney died of kidney disease in 1980; Anne Haney made the trek to California, alone. Not long after arriving, she had an agent and a part in the Walter Matthau vehicle Hopscotch (1980). As her career took off, she also secured roles on stage, notably the role of Margaret Fielding in the Theatre West production of "Verdigris". When asked whether she ever dwelled on the prospect that had she begun her career too late, she replied that "this is gravy to me. It's a wonderful way to spend the last third of my life".


Hal Landon, Jr. as Norm: Hal Landon Jr. was born on May 23, 1941 in Long Beach, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), Eraserhead (1977) and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991). Best known for playing Captain Logan (Ted's father) in the comedy classic Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989). Son of Harold Landon, who also appeared in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991). Along with Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter and Amy Stoch, he is one of only four actors to appear in all three "Bill & Ted" films: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) and Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020).

Lesly Kahn as Velma Waters: Lesly Kahn is known for Quantum Leap (1989), The Equalizer (1985) and The Commish (1991).

Ted Baader as Billy Beaumont (Mirror Image): Ted Baader is known for Quantum Leap (1989), Cohen and Tate (1988) and L.A. Law (1986).

Guests who appeared in other Quantum Leap episodes:

Anne Haney played Cassy Thailer in "8½ Months."

Patrick Massett played Rusty in "The Americanization of Machiko."

Say What?

What was the point of the cannon being shot all the time? I still don't understand, even after seeing the episode so many times.

Sam, being a scientist and would have taken a few chemistry courses, wouldn't be stupid enough to think that a silver fork stirring iodine would make silver iodide in any considerable amount of time. He doesn't seem to know very much about chemistry at all (of course, this could be the Swiss-cheese effect).

Ziggy is getting very accurate weather data somehow from 1953, where it is very unlikely records were that well kept in a small town.

The original broadcast credited Richard C. Okie and Donald P. Bellisario for the story. Later, on the HD versions, it changed (incorrectly) crediting Richard Stanley and Ralph Meyering, Jr. You can see these credits below.

Quotable Quotes:

Clinton: "You see, modern science... modern science has discovered that water vapour is always in the air. Well, now I know it seems impossible. I mean, but it's true, it's here, right now! It's all around us. Now, the problem is getting it to form into little drops and fall to the ground."

Al (length of time until it rains): "Eight months, uh, one week, four days, two hours, and forty-four minutes."
Clinton: "Yes, sir, we are going to make it rain!"

Al: "We can change history, we can change people, but the weather, that's the leap of another colour. I mean that's, no, that a horse of another kell. I mean, I don't know what I mean."

Annie: "What's this?"
Sam: "Hmm? That? That's a microwave oven."
Annie: "Well, what does it do?"
Sam: "Oh, you know, it kinda cooks things real fast."

Sam: "And Mom, I want you to throw this town the biggest picnic they've ever seen."
mom: "A picnic? Why?"
Sam: "Why? Why? Why, because it always rains on a picnic."

Sam (looking toward sky): "Al... I don't know where the Hell you are, but you'd better get your butt down here and fast!"
Vern: "I'm glad you haven't lost your religion, boy, but you gotta brush up on your prayers some."

Sam: "What do we do with silver forks?"
Clinton: "Mostly, we eat with them."

Al: "Anyway, yours truly had to do combat duty."
Sam: "And what did you find out?"
Al: "That girls that wear glasses have lots and lots of energy."

Sam: "Why do we even bother?"
Al: "Because that's what we do, we're professional botherers."

Best Lines:

Sam (praying to God): "I don't know who's runnin' this show. I don't know why I was chosen. I bounce around from place to place. I do everything I'm supposed to do, at least the best way I can, but I don't know how to do this one. I mean, you gotta help me. I figure you owe me, for a couple of times, anyway. You make it rain. You hear me? You make it rain!"

Al: "Because that's what we do, we're professional botherers."

Al: "Girls that wear glasses have lots and lots of energy."

Best Scene:

Call me sentimental, but I think the prayer scene is the best in this episode, starting with returning from commercials and up until the end of the scene. It just touches me somehow, with Sam's and Clinton's conversation, Sam's prayer, as well as the "Sam's Prayer" music. We get to hear Sam express his feelings about all of the work that he's done during the quantum leaping, and it really allows us to have insight to Sam's character that we don't get to see very often.

Awards:

Emmy Nomination: Jean-Pierre Dorléac for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series in 1992.

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
Teleplay by: Richard C. Okie
Story by: Richard C. Okie & Donald P. Bellisario
Directed by: Virgil W. Vogel

Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario
Associate Producers: Julie Bellisario, James S. Giritlian
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

Panaflex ® Camera and Lenses by: Panavision ®

This motion picture is protected under laws of the United States and other countries. Unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution.

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

The characters and events depicted in this photoplay are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Bellisarius Productions and Universal, an MCA Company

Podcasts:



Get your silver iodide, because it’s time for A Single Drop of Rain!

On this episode of The Quantum Leap Podcast, hosts Allison Pregler, Matt Dale and Christopher DeFilippis discuss Sam’s Leap as a con man promising to make it rain in a drought-ridden Texas town.

Listen to The Quantum Leap Podcast on this episode here:

It’s an exploration of faith, science, freedom, responsibility, and most importantly – Scott in a snappy suit! Can we get a hallelujah?!?

Let us know what you think!

Leave us a voicemail by calling (707) 847-6682.

Send in your thoughts, theories, and feedback, voice memos, MP3s & email to quantumleappodcast@gmail.com.

Also, join us on Facebook.com/QuantumLeapPodcast and Twitter.com/QuantumLeapPod and as a patron receive bonus and exclusive content by signing up here… www.patreon.com/QuantumLeapPodcast.

Back to top