Episode
adopted by: Rebekka E. Additional
info provided by: Brian Greene
Synopsis:
In
a New Orleans brothel as the head honcho, Sam leaps in to keep one of
the girls who doesn't seem to belong there from vanishing. Al has the
time of his life during this leap.
TV Guide Synopsis: It's
a fine trick when Sam leaps into a pimp running a New Orleans bordello,
and he's called on to save one of the women from an unseemly demise.
Rita Taggart. Gina: Georgia Emelin. Jake: Dan Butler. Sophie: Lauren
Tom. Sam: Scott Bakula.
Sam leaps
into Gilbert LaBonte, the owner of a popular New Orleans brothel,
during the man's birthday celebration with his girls. Al is very
excited about this leap but Sam is annoyed by the voyeurism. A man
makes trouble when one of the girls, Gina (played by Georgia Emelin),
does not want to go upstairs with him and the man has to be threatened
with a shotgun before he will go and take his friends with him. Gina
apologizes but will not elaborate. Shortly afterwards, a man who runs a
school shows up looking for one of his missing students and Gina claims
illness and retreats to the kitchen.
Al reports that Gina goes missing that night and a month later she's
found beaten to death. Sam tries to solve the problem by giving
everyone at the brothel the night off and most of the girls go to the
French Quarter. Gina is revealed to be the cousin of Marsha (played by
Rita Taggart), one of the older prostitutes, and not a prostitute at
all. Gina and Marsha are worried that LaBonte will find out that Marsha
is essentially giving her free board and throw them both out. Marsha
tries to understand what Gina is doing there and explains how very
unglamorous that lifestyle is but Gina will only say that there's
nothing for her back home and she had to get away.
Sam tries to focus on Gina but Gina won't admit to being scared of
anything and asks Sam to leave so she can go to sleep. Sam is
distracted by Marsha who LaBonte is apparently engaged to but Marsha
doesn't love him and only seems him as her ticket out of the life of a
prostitute. Al reports that LaBonte marries someone who isn't Marsha
and when Sam resists Marsha's advances, she is devastated and accuses
him of being in love with Gina who she confesses is her cousin. Sam
encourages her that it is never too late for a second chance and that
she should move on to a new life...just not necessarily with him.
They hear screaming as Gina is being beaten by the school head who
wants Gina to come back with him. It turns out that she was a student
of his and when her mother died, he let her stay on for free. He was
very nice to her and her friends and they quickly married before she
could see that he would be an abusive husband. Sam arrives to save the
day and beats the man up before sending him packing. Gina refuses to
press charges and the sheriff (played by David Graf) points out that
Gina's husband appears to be a pillar of the community while LaBonte
owns a brothel so Sam's word against the husband's won't go well.
Al reports that Gina is pregnant and she left her husband after finding
this out for fear of hurting the baby. She reluctantly agrees to go
back and hopes that knowing of the baby will soften her husband's rage
but Al reports she'll die anyway. There is no legal way of dealing with
the husband with Gina refusing to press charges and so Sam takes
matters into his own hands.
The husband shows up to take Gina home as Sam is taking a ‘graduation
picture’ of the girls (the brothel dates back to the time when such
establishments were given innocuous names and this is apparently a
quilting academy) so the husband will have to wait for Gina to get
down. One of the girls is late to the picture and stumbles while
stripping and Sam takes a picture of what appears to be the husband
soliciting a prostitute. The girls all swear to tell everyone that the
husband tried to solicit them and Gina refuses to go with him
Al tells Sam that the husband is so paranoid of his picture being
leaked to the newspaper like Sam threatened that he never goes back to
the school and his rage eventually lands him in an institution where he
can't hurt anybody else. Marsha leaves with Gina who, gets a
waitressing job and names her son after LaBonte. Source
Personal
Review by Rebekka E.:
This
episode is ok. It is very funny. The episode deals with something
very serious, wife beating. They have tried to lighten the mood with a
little humor. The episode shows how bad things can happen to any person
no matter who they are or what they do.
Commercial:
Music:
"Amazing Grace" (piano instrumental)
"Oh When the Saints Go Marching In"
"Bottles of Beer on the Wall"
Sam
can sense he is about to leap. This also happened in "Another Mother."
Al’s
Outfits Worn in the Episode:
The first outfit Al wears is a purple suit with a striped tie and tie
clip, with a white shirt, and a shark pin.
The
second outfit Al wears is
red pants, a red jacket with black sleeves and black stripe down the
back, a shiny grey tie, and a white shirt with different spots of color.
Al's
Women:
Al goes crazy over all the women in the brothel.
Southern Comfort is
the name of a whiskey developed in New Orleans.
This episode was
originally intended as a comedy, but later became a much deeper story.
Lauren Tom (Sophie) was born on August 4th 1961, the date of this episode!
There are two actors in this episode with the same name.
David
Graf as Sheriff Nolan, and
David
Alan Graf as Carl.
Jake Dorléac is
named for the Quantum Leap costume designer Jean-Pierre Dorléac.
The exterior of the
LaBonte Brothel is more well know as 1313 Mockingbird Lane (from the
Munsters TV series) and also featured in The 'Burbs (1989) and later
(following some major renovations) as the Applewhite House as part of
the Wisteria Lane set for Desperate Housewives.
Guest
Stars: Rita
Taggart as Marsha Fourcade
David
Graf as Sheriff Nolan
Georgia
Emelin as Gina Dorléac
Dan
Butler as Jake Dorléac
Lauren
Tom as Sophie
Minnie
Summers
Lindsey as Prostitute #1
Diane
Delano as Prostiture #2
David
Powledge as Luther
Walter
Sylvest as Warren
J.
Marvin Campbell as Sailor
Stacey
Cortez as Paulette
Monica
McMurty as Abby
Jeffrey
Concklin as Reese
David
Alan Graf as Carl
William
Winckler as Whorehouse John
Richard
White as Gilbert LaBonte (Mirror image)
Rita
Taggart as Marsha Fourcade: Rita
Taggart was born on December 19, 1947 in Salinas, California, USA. She
is an actress and cinematographer, known for Mulholland Drive (2001),
The China Syndrome (1979) and 1941 (1979). She was previously married
to Haskell Wexler.
David
Graf as Sheriff Nolan: David
Graf was a Lancaster, Ohio native. He was a graduate of Lancaster High
School in 1968. He went on to attend college at Otterbein University
where he graduated in 1972 as a theater major. He attended Ohio State
University grad school until 1975 when he dropped out to pursue an
acting career in New York City. He broke into the movies with Four
Friends (1981). David never forgot his roots. He always returned to
Lancaster each year in October for the Fairfield County Fair. It was
his way of keeping in touch. In a tragic coincidence, David passed away
at the same age and condition that his father did. David is survived by
his wife of 17 years, Kathryn Graf, two sons, Daniel and Sean; mother
and brother who reside in Zanesville, Ohio.As
a struggling actor in 1979, he won $10,000 on The $10,000 Pyramid
(1973) (then renamed "The $20,000 Pyramid"). with the help of celebrity
player Patty Duke. As a celebrity, he played on The $100,000 Pyramid
(1985), competing against Patty Duke twice during the weeks of October
21-25, 1985 and February 1-5, 1988. His funeral was attended by all the
main cast members from the Police Academy movies. Died on April 7, 2001
in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Georgia
Emelin as Gina Dorléac: Georgia
Emelin was born on July 13, 1969 in New York City, New York, USA. She
is an actress, known for Fire in the Sky (1993), Space Cowboys (2000)
and Quantum Leap (1989).
Dan
Butler as Jake Dorléac: Dan
Butler was born on December 2, 1954 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. He is
an actor and writer, known for Frasier (1993), The Silence of the Lambs
(1991) and Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011). He has been married to Richard
Waterhouse since September 12, 2010. Is one of only two actors to have
appeared in the original Hannibal Lecter film, Manhunter (1986), as
well as The Silence of the Lambs (1991). The other is Frankie Faison.
In 1995, he and Candace Gingrich served as spokespersons for the
National Coming Out Day Project. Butler appeared in public service
announcements that included the gently humorous statement, "I'm not a
straight man, but I play one on television". Butler disclosed his
homosexuality on Entertainment Tonight (1981) in 1994 during his run as
a swaggering heterosexual on Frasier (1993). Best known for his role as
Robert "Bulldog" Briscoe in Frasier (1993). Initially, he was a
recurring guest actor, but in 1996, he became a member of the main
cast. His character was written out of the show in 1999, but returned
to guest star in five episodes of the series' last three seasons.
Openly gay, he starred in Terrence McNally's 1989 play "The Lisbon
Traviata" and wrote a one-man off-Broadway play about his life, "The
Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me...", which derives its title
from a comment Butler's father allegedly made when Dan came out to him.
In the play, he plays 14 different gay characters.
Lauren
Tom as Sophie: Lauren
Tom is an Obie Award-winning actress, known for her roles as a dutiful
daughter in the film The Joy Luck Club, as Ross's girlfriend, Julie, on
the classic NBC sitcom Friends, and most recently as Mrs. Tran on
Supernatural. Lauren also lent her voice talents on the animated series
Futurama as the much loved character of Amy. Recently, Lauren starred
as a series regular in Andi Mack on The Disney Channel from 2016-2019.
She also can be seen in the series, Guillermo Del Toro's Trollhunters
and 3Below. Next up, Lauren can be seen in a recurring role in the
Amazon series, Goliath, alongside Billy Bob Thornton. She has also
appeared in the films, Grandma with Lily Tomlin, Bad Santa, In Good
Company, When a Man Loves a Woman, Mr. Jones, With Friends Like These,
Catfish in Black Bean Sauce, and Manhood. On television, Lauren was a
series regular as Mai on the ABC series Men in Trees, NBC's DAG as
Delta Burke's secretary, Ginger Chin and on ABC's Grace Under Fire with
Brett Butler. She also did a recurring stint on Showtime's series
Barbershop. On Broadway, she has appeared in A Chorus Line, Hurlyburly
and Doonesbury, and has worked with directors such as Peter Sellars and
Joanne Akalaitis at the Goodman and Guthrie Theaters, the La Jolla
Playhouse and the Kennedy Center. Her one-woman show, 25 Psychics, an
engaging, humorous look at her quest for inner peace premiered at HBO'S
U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. The show received Dramalogue Awards
for Best Performance and Best Direction. Lauren's other voice work can
be heard in the animated series King of the Hill, Codename: Kids Next
Door, Teacher's Pet, Rocket Power, Max Steel, Batman, Superman, Kim
Possible, Baby Clifford, American Dragon and the animated home video
Mulan II... She has also published personal essays in Brain, Child
Magazine, East West Woman, Strut, Freshyarn.com, and is currently
writing a book based on these essays.
Minnie
Summers
Lindsey as Housekeeper (and sometimes credited as Prostitute #1): Minnie
Summers Lindsey was born on October 7, 1912 in Missouri, USA. She was
an actress, known for Rising Sun (1993), Ghost (1990) and Choose Me
(1984). She died on December 31, 2001 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Diane
Delano as Prostiture #2: Diane
Delano was born on January 29, 1957 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
She is an actress, known for The Wicker Man (2006), Miracle Mile (1988)
and The Ladykillers (2004).
David
Powledge as Luther: David
Powledge was born on October 21, 1947 in Houston, Texas, USA. He was an
actor, known for Rat Race (2001), Million Dollar Baby (2004) and The
Green Hornet (2011). He died on September 12, 2015 in Pasadena, Texas,
USA.
Walter
Sylvest as Warren: Walter Sylvest is known for Quantum Leap (1989), Simon & Simon (1981) and Sledge Hammer! (1986).
J.
Marvin Campbell as Sailor: J.
Marvin Campbell is known for Quantum Leap (1989), Ray Donovan (2013)
and Justified (2010). He guest starred in two unrelated television
series featuring a regular character named Sam Beckett: China Beach
(1988) and Quantum Leap (1989).
Stacey
Cortez as Paulette: Stacey
Cortez was born on February 25, 1966. She is an actress, known for Dark
Angel (1990), Quantum Leap (1989) and General Hospital (1963). She has
been married to Stephen Graves since September 5, 1992.
Monica
McMurty as Abby: Monica McMurtry is known for Quantum Leap (1989) and The Human Factor (1992).
Jeffrey
Concklin as Reese: Jeffrey Concklin is known for Quantum Leap (1989), Messenger of Death (1988) and Grand Tour: Disaster in Time (1991).
David
Alan Graf as Carl: Los
Angeles native David Alan Graf has been an actor for over twenty years,
gracing both the large and small screen. His performance in the
independent sleeper Bang (available on video) as a supposedly
legitimate movie producer has been lauded by critics as both satirical
and disturbing. In "Pups", his portrayal of a humiliated bank manager
held hostage by two compulsive young teenagers in love, brought the
following comments from critic Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun: "(A)
very real unraveling persona of a man who can't believe this is
happening to him. David Alan Graf's portrayal of a kindly bank manager
coming apart takes us inside the bank hostage situation itself." Had to
use his middle name in acting due to there being another fellow busy TV
actor named David Graf (who was probably best known for the 'Police
Academy' films).
William
Winckler as Whorehouse John (uncredited):
Independent writer/producer/director William Winckler comes from a
show-business background. His late father, Robert Winkler--aka "Bobby"
Winkler--was a famous child actor during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
As an adult he became a successful entertainment attorney. He followed
in his father's footsteps, but in a slightly different path. William
studied acting and directing at UCLA with the late Don Richardson,
director/teacher to Anne Bancroft, Grace Kelly, Zero Mostel, John
Cassavetes, Elizabeth Montgomery and countless other stars. He learned
a great deal from Don, and applied it to his acting and directing
career. From the mid to the late 1980s, William worked as an actor in
various TV series, films and theater. He then wrote and produced two
syndicated series of his own, the animated sci-fi show Tekkaman the
Space Knight (1984) and the all-dwarf comedy/variety series Short Ribbs
(1989), starring the late Billy Barty. When the internet boom hit,
William was head of development for a science-fiction entertainment
company, developing star-driven feature films and shorts for internet
webcast and DVD. The late Jonathan Harris, best known for his starring
role as "Dr. Smith," in the classic TV series Lost in Space (1965), was
William's close mentor throughout the 1990s and taught him a great deal
about the business. Winckler formed William Winckler Productions
Inc., in 2001 to write, produce and direct low-budget feature films in
the sci-fi, fantasy, horror and adventure genres. His sexy action
comedy, The Double-D Avenger (2001) has been a great creative and
financial success for him, being a top cult movie best seller in
America, and internationally in France and French-speaking Europe, in
Japan, and many other countries. William Winckler continues to produce
feature films. He absolutely loves classic sci-fi, horror and fantasy
films from the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and he has a huge
collection of related memorabilia, toy robots, action figures, etc., in
his personal collection.
Richard
White as Gilbert LaBonte (Mirror image): Richard White is known for Immediate Family (1989), Quantum Leap (1989) and Kill Zone (1993).
Say What? When Sam is talking to Marsha, his hands are on her shoulders, but in other shots they are not.
When Gia is passed out, it appears to be a freeze frame shot.
Why doesn't Sam
press charges for tresspassing, when the sheriff says he can't do
anything without a complaint from Gina?
Quotable
Quotes:
Of all the
partners in the whole wide world that I should have to choose, and what
do I end up with? The Prudent Prince.
-- Al, "Southern Comforts"
Don't do anything I wouldn't do - but if you do, take pictures.
-- Al, "Southern Comfort"
Don't hit him, Sam!
-- Al, "Southern Comforts"
Did I miss a party? Damn.
-- Al, "Southern Comforts"
I think she's as lost here as I am.
-- Sam, "Southern Comforts"
I remember all the boys used to chase you back in Lake Charles.
And most of them caught me.
-- Gina and Marcia, "Southern Comforts"
Not this time, Al.
-- Sam, ready to leap, "Southern Comforts"
Blow? ... Yeah the candles.
-- Sam, "Southern Comforts"
The only thing being sewn out there is wild oats.
-- Al, "Southern Comforts"
Go away ... yes GO AWAY ... Don't come back until you know why I'm
here. There's nothing for you to see out there. Now
just GO AWAY.
Of all the partners in the whole wide world that I should have to pick
and what do I end up with? The Prudent Prince.
-- Sam and Al, "Southern Comforts"
Says who?
Says me and this shotgun.
Now lady, you better be careful with that thing because it might
accidently go off.
If it goes off it won't be no accident!
-- The sailor and the housekeeper, "Southern Comforts"
The boys from Shreveport are here.
-- Bo Peep, "Southern Comforts"
Stir my gumbo.
Yes Ma'am.
Now don't you be sassin me!
-- Sam and the housekeeper, "Southern Comforts"
Oh this looks so good. I wish I could smell it.
-- Al, about the gumbo, "Southern Comforts"
Why don't you go tell everybody that we're taking the night off.
Oh goodie ... and then some other things too!
-- Sam and Marcia, "Southern Comforts"
Trust me ... I know what I'm doing.
-- Sam, "Southern Comforts"
I'd stick around too, but I hate to see a grown man cry, especially
when it's me.
-- Al, "Southern Comforts"
I think it's time I unwrapped your birthday present, don't you?
Oh boy.
-- Marcia (undressing) and Sam, "Southern Comforts"
You mean to say this man has solicited the affections of more than one
of these women?
He offered it to me.
And me ... and me ... and me
and he even offered it to ME.
-- The sheriff, the Sewing and Quilting Academy girls and the
housekeeper, "Southern Comforts"
I think I'll go upstairs and take a long hot bath.
Ah ... Sam, I think I'll do a little exploring up there, wanna come?
Not this time.
Oh no, Sam no, don't leap yet, no ...
-- one of the girls, Al and Sam, "Southern Comforts"
Best
Line: "No, Sam don’t leap yet, no!"
Best Scene:
The best scene is near the end of the episode when they take the
graduation photo. Jake is kissed by Sophie and they take a picture of
him with her and threaten to expose the picture to the board of
directors at his school.
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 Co-producers: Paul Brown, Jeff Gourson Produced by: Chris Ruppenthal Created by: Donald P. Bellisario Written by:Tommy Thompson Directed by:Chris Ruppenthal
Quantum Leap Podcast Interview - Director Chris Ruppenthal: Chris
Ruppenthal does not need an introduction, being Quantum Leap royalty.
He was a producer of the show for most of the series run, and
completely wrote nine episodes: “Good Morning Peoria”; “Animal Frat”;
“Freedom”; “One Strobe Over The Line”; “The Halloween Episode”;
“Glitter Rock”; “Hurricane”; “Roberto!”; and “The Curse of Ptah-Hotep”;
as well as co-writing the teleplay for “The Last Gunfighter”.
Ruppenthal’s only directorial credit is also from Quantum Leap, he
directed “Southern Comforts”, an episode widely acclaimed for
addressing the issue of domestic violence. He even made a cameo
appearance as Sam’s mirror image in the afforementioned episode-that-must-not-be-named, which, along with writing the so-called “cursed episode”
earnt him the nickname “Ruppenboogie”. As such, it is very fitting that
Ruppenthal is here to boogie with us for this episode of the podcast.
Please enjoy Albie’s conversation with Chris Ruppenthal…
Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario Associate Producer:James S. Giritlian Executive Story Editor: Tommy Thompson Director of Photography: Michael Watkins, A.S.C. Production Designer: Cameron Birnie Edited by: Robert E. Pew Unit Production Manager: Ron Grow First Assistant Director: Ryan Gordon Second Assistant Director: Kate Yurka Casting by: Ellen Lubin Sanitsky Set Director: Robert L. Zilliox Costume Designer: Jean-Pierre Dorleac Costume Supervisors: David Rawley & Donna Roberts-Orme Sound Mixer: Barry D. Thomas Stunt Coordinator: Diamond Farnsworth Sound Editor: Paul Clay Music Editor: Donald Woods
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.
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:
Quantum Leap Podcast - Southern Comforts
Listen to The Quantum Leap Podcast
on this episode here:
Stir the gumbo and primp your fez, because it’s time to enjoy some Southern Comforts!
On this episode of the Quantum Leap Podcast hosts Matt Dale, Allison
Pregler and Christopher DeFilippis head to a New Orleans brothel, where
Sam has to prevent a young woman from being killed by her abusive
husband.
And joining us as special guest host is episode director Chris
Ruppenthal. Chris is a veteran Quantum Leap writer and producer, and he
takes us behind the scenes to share his unique perspectives on Southern
Comforts. He also tells us how an episode of Quantum Leap got made from
start to finish.
The Quantum Leap podcast — more fun than graduation day at The Labonte Sewing and Quilting Academy!
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.
