Leap Date:
February 1, 1985

Episode Adopted by: Eleiece <aka> Sherdran & Dave Korman
Additional info provided by: Carly Iappini and Brian Greene

Teaser:

A rash of serial murders is taking place in San Francisco and Sam has become a television reporter who must prevent the psychic who is helping the police from becoming the next victim! But when she discovers who Sam really is, they fall for each other and the ordeal becomes very personal.

Audio from this episode:

Sam: I'm at channel 12 here. We'll see you.

TV Guide Synopsis:

Sam tunes into a TV reporter covering serial murders in San Francisco, and something clicks with the police's psychic consultant, who may be the next victim. Ross: James Handy. Collins: Kent Williams. Tont Beche: Rob LaBelle. Sam: Scott Bakula.

Project Date:

Sam tells Tamlyn that he is really from the year 199-- but is cut off.

Synopsis & Review:

Sam leaps in and finds himself about to go live on network TV. His cameraman, Ross Tyler, informs him that he's live and his only response is to say “Oh Boy."

Back from the opening titles, Sam gives an awkward report, from a crime scene that doesn't really give his audience any information. Ross is annoyed with him, wondering if he's trying to blow their big break, as other networks are watching.

The investigators walk by Sam and Ross, and make it clear they are no fans of him. The killer has apparently been giving Sam tips. Ross defends Sam saying the police were informed after.

Sam meets psychic Tamlyn Matsuda. Tamlyn recognizes him as a a tv host and says she's helping the police, and she has a feeling the two of them will meet again. She talks to the police and gives her disturbing visions of what happened to the victim. We see the victim as she is killed. Through the window, Sam and Ross record what Tamlyn has to say. She says that the killer begs the victim's forgiveness.

In the alleyway, Sam talks to Ross about wanting to talk to Tamlyn. Ross expresses skepticism about the psychic, calls it a night. Sam takes a rain check on drinks with Ross. Looking over the scene, we see a mysterious figure lurking, who quickly takes off.

Sam greets Tamlyn, who correctly surmises that the run in was no accident; that he waited for her. He offers to walk her home, and it's clear that Sam is taken with her. She agrees, saying she doesn't know him but it feels like she does.

Back at her place, she says she was teaching in England. When she got home, she had a dream about a girl being murdered. She asks if he believes her. Sam says he wants to believe, reminding us of the television series phrase from “The X-Files." She asks him if he had ever known about something that happened in the future and then it did? Al appears, nine minutes and twenty four seconds into the episode to answer her question in the affirmative. She can't hear his answer, of course. Tamlyn think most people are psychic degree. Al wants to get rid of her so they could talk and suggests some tea. Just then, Tamlyn offers to get him tea, which Al deems a coincidence.

Al picks up on Sam's attraction to her and tells him to forget about it. He's too old for her. Sam says he's actually just right. But Al points out that he might be, but the guy he leapt into isn't. He's not long for retirement.

Sam wonders if he's here to stop the murders. Which will take place in two weeks according to Al. He speculates that she must have gotten close to discovering who the killer was and came after her. Al is skeptical. Tamlyn returns, and asks a question about his tea, while calling him Sam. This throws both him and Al off guard. She corrects herself and says she's not sure where that came from.

Sam is beginning to believe that she is psychic, while Al remains skeptical. He wants to know why she doesn't know she's going to die. Sam says he remembers reading that psychics never foresee their own death. Al gives the date of her death as Valentines Day. Tamlyn senses an energy in the room, which must be Al. Al decides that he's out of there. She says she must have been on edge after seeing what the girl went through, which she did after touching her pillow. Sam questions if she's afraid the killer might come after her. She thinks that will only happen if the killer thinks she's really psychic. Tomorrow she's going to look at mugshots. Sam asks if he can come with her and she agrees.

The detective is not as thrilled by his presence but eventually agrees to it. They go through the mug shots and Tamlyn stops on one photo, commenting that she thinks he's hiding behind a mask. Sam flips over the page and she realizes the killer is the person directly behind the first photo she landed on, a man named Tony Beche.

Ross And Sam look at the B-roll, with Tamlyn who gets sick and goes to get water. Ross questions Sam on Tamlyn, hinting that he suspects something romantic Is going on.

Tamyln tells Sam, back at her apartment, that she started having abilities at the age of 7. She glimpsed her mom, telling her not to be afraid. The next morning, her father was crying. Her mother was dead. She was hit by a drunk driver. She couldn't have been in a bedroom. After that her dreams started. She goes over to the mirror, crying. When she looks into it, she's sees Sam - not the person he's leapt Into. She reacts in shock and ask him who he is. Sam slowly realizes that she's seeing him and she says that she has seen him in his dreams. She asks him again, who is he really?

Al appears, and warns Sam not to tell her as he may not leap. Sam asks what if he doesn't want to leap? He slowly but surely tells her who he really is, much to Al's irritation. When it seems like things might get intimate, Al high tails it out of there.

Tamlyn realizes that he got there by leaping, and figures out that she is the next victim. She asks how long he will be there and if he will leave after she dies. Sam says they can change history. One thing leads to another, and they make love. Time passes and we see a montage of their relationship, presumably over the days leading up to her murder.

On the morning of Valentines Day, Al appears and makes fun of Sam's boxers, which Sam says was a gift. Al tells him that he can't stay there, asking if he would leave Dylan in the waiting room forever. He kisses Tamlyn and tells her he could leap at anytime. She suggests they see this as a vacation and and they start to kiss as Al disappears.

But not for long, as Al reappears to say they found the killer and hurries Sam along to go after him. Sam runs around looking for the killer, aided by Al. This leads them down an alleyway. Al directs him behind some boxes. He captures Tony… But Al tells him that Tamilyn still dies. The police apprehend Tony… but it changes nothing. They speculate that Tony might be a copy cat and the real killer is still out there. He frantically goes back to Tamlyn's and discovers she is okay.

At his job, Ross tells him that he missed his birthday for the first time in 25 years. Ross plays it off, and says she must have him under some kind of spell as both apologize. The phone rings, and Ross says it's the killer. He answers and gets vague threats about Tamlyn. The killer talks right over Sam. Al appears and Sam asks her, "Where is she killed?" Sam suggests that they should confront her destiny. He wants to bring her to Chinatown. Maybe she can sense the killer.

They go to Chinatown with Ross tagging along. Tamlyn says the killer is close by. Sam runs after someone he suspects, leaving her alone with Ross. It turns out to be a random homeless person and not the killer. Tamlyn catches on to Ross being the killer, and she seems some flashbacks of him. She tries to play it off, but eventually he grabs her and takes off.

Sam returns to where he left them and doesn't find them. Sam has Al run a check on Ross. Sam asks if he would know how to hook up a tape machine to a phone. Al says he would and they quickly realize that he is the killer.

Ross takes Tamlyn up to the roof of a tall factory, where Al locates her. Al tells Sam how to get to her and returns to watch over her. A struggle ensues, until Sam arrives. He's about to throw Tamlyn off the roof. He tells Ross it's over. Ross tells him that he got their jobs back. He accidentally killed a girl, called Dylan pretending to be someone else and they ended up the first to report it, when they were about to be laid off. He then went on a killing spree. Sam, however, has told the police about Ross’s involvement. He puts Tamlyn down and instead tries to jump. Sam tries to save him but can't hold on. Ross falls many stories to his death!

At night, the police are on the scene. Al starts to tell Sam that it's time to go, but Tamlyn finishes for him. Sam says he will never forget her and he might come back. Tamyln replies, "No, you won't." They embrace and Sam Leaps.

Music:

"I Want To Know What Love Is" by Foreigner plays during Sam and Tamlyn's romantic montage.

Lyrics to "I Want To Know What Love Is"

I gotta take a little time, a little time to think things over
I better read between the lines, in case I need it when I'm older

Now this mountain I must climb, feels like the world upon my shoulders
Through the clouds I see love shine, it keeps me warm as life grows colder

In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far, to change this lonely life

I want to know what love is, I want you to show me
I want to feel what love is, I know you can show me

I'm gonna take a little time, a little time to look around me
I've got nowhere left to hide, it looks like love has finally found me

In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far, to change this lonely life

I want to know what love is, I want you to show me
I want to feel what love is, I know you can show me
I want to know what love is, I want you to show me
(And I wanna feel) I want to feel what love is
(And I know) I know you can show me

Let's talk about love - I want to know what love is
The love that you feel inside - I want you to show me
And I'm feeling so much love - I want to feel what love is
No, you just can't hide - I know you can show me
I want to know what love is (let's talk about love), I know you can show me
I wanna feel it too - I want to feel what love is
I wanna feel it too, and I know and I know - I know you can show me
Show me love is real, yeah - I want to know what love is...
(fade)

Project Trivia:

In this episode Al used the multi-colored 'Gummy Bear' handlink.

Can Al hear things going on in Sam's time from outside the Imaging Chamber? Al answered Tamlyn's question she asked before he appeared. Perhaps the technology seen in the 2022 revival series is already being tested?

Sam Trivia:

Sam recalls reading somewhere that psychics can foresee the deaths of others but not their own.

Sam's favorite tea - orange spice - is mentioned. It is mentioned in several other episodes, too, the first being "Catch A Falling Star."

Al Trivia:

Al carried a cigar throughout this episode.

Miscellaneous Trivia:

This is the longest Leap in the series clocking in at two weeks!

Ostensibly, Tamlyn is killed on Valentine's Day 1985 during a full moon. In fact, in 1985 the full moon was on February 5th. On February 14, 1985, the moon was actually closer to the 'last quarter' phase (which occurred on February, 12, 1985)

Tamlyn's apartment number was 214, which is also Valentine's day (the day she dies in the original history).

In the scene between Al and Sam at the TV station just after Tamlyn goes into the washroom, specifically when the camera is on Al, there's a poster on the wall behind him. The poster is a picture of a young James Dean, probably done around the time that he was in the movie, "Giant". In reality, Dean Stockwell was close to James Dean in age. And after James Dean's tragic death in 1955, some in Hollywood commented that, "He (Stockwell) could be the next James Dean."

The TV station that Dillon Powell and Ross Tyler worked for was KSFW, Channel 12.

The episode was directed by Christopher Hibler. This is his first effort on the series. He would direct four in total, the other three in Season 5.

Bloopers:

Guest Cast Notes:

Tamlyn Tomita as Tamlyn Matsuda: Tamlyn Tomita was born on January 27, 1966 in Okinawa, Japan. She is an actress and writer, known for The Day After Tomorrow (2004), The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Eye (2008). She is married to Daniel Blinkoff.

Kent Williams as Max Collins: Kent Williams is known for Quantum Leap (1989) and Hill Street Blues (1981).

James Handy as Ross Tyler: James Handy was born in New York City, New York, USA. He is known for Arachnophobia (1990), Jumanji (1995) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022).

Rob LaBelle as Tony Beche: Rob LaBelle was born on August 2, 1962 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Watchmen (2009), The Man in the High Castle (2015) and Motive (2013). He is married to Megan. They have one child. Along with Dean Cain, Teri Hatcher, Patrick Cassidy, Michael McKean, George Murdock and Richard Gant, he is one of only seven actors to appear in both Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993) and Smallville (2001). Father of Gabriel LaBelle.Though LaBelle works primarily as an actor, he is also a director of television and theatre.

Alan Baltes as Reporter: Alan Baltes has been involved in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. The journey began when Alan met actor Don Stroud surfing in Santa Barbara in 1984. The two became friends, and one day Alan went with Don on an audition for General Hospital, and helped Don with his lines in the waiting room. While Don was in the casting director's office auditioning, the associate casting director called Alan in to his office, and asked if he was an actor, and complimented Alan about his reading the script lines with Don Stroud in the waiting room. Alan told the casting director that he always wanted to be an actor, but never pursued it. Alan also struck up a conversation, asking the casting director how he became involved in the casting profession. Alan ended up working on the show as an extra for a year before being cast in a recurring speaking role playing "Police Cadet McDonald", a story line of Alan and several other actors going through Police Academy with the character "Frisco Jones". One of the other police cadets was actor Marc Dacascos, who is now a very successful film star. After working on General Hospital for 8 months in the recurring role, Alan auditioned with casting director Doris Sabbagh for a guest starring role on the television show "Punky Brewster". Doris told Alan that he was not right for that role, however she said he was perfect for working on the daytime drama "Days of Our Lives". Alan ended up working numerous episodes on the soap over the course of the next 10 years. The acting roles continued on other television shows such as "Port Charles", "Married with Children", "The Golden Girls", "Murder, She Wrote" and many others. Alan had the opportunity to work with countless top industry professionals such as seven-time Academy Award nominee and legendary music producer Quincy Jones ("Life Goes On", episode "Last Stand in Glenn Brook"), three-time Academy Award nominee Angela Lansbury and Academy Award nominee/legendary acting coach Nina Foch ("Murder, She Wrote", episode "Tainted Lady"), and two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington ("St. Elsewhere", episode "Santa Claus Is Dead"). Alan joined the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists in 1984. Over the years Alan has served on multiple SAG/AFTRA committees including the Native American Caucus. Through the committee work, Alan has met important politicians, top industry casting directors, and other important industry professionals. Since the beginning of his acting career Alan has worked closely with Hanay Geiogamah, who is a playwright, TV and movie producer, artistic director, and a Professor in the School of Theater, Film and Television at the University of California, Los Angeles. Geiogamah is a very important and influential figure in Native American entertainment industry relations. Geiogamah hired Alan to serve as producer's assistant with the Native American Indian Dance Theatre, which has toured extensively in the United States and abroad.

Harker Wade as Dylan Powell (Mirror Image): Harker Wade is known for Quantum Leap (1989), Tequila and Bonetti (1992) and Battlestar Galactica (1978). He produced every episode of Quantum Leap (1989-1993).

Guests Who Appeared In Other Episodes of Quantum Leap:

Harker Wade as Dylan Powell produced every episode of Quantum Leap (1989-1993).

Say What?

February 14th, 1985 was not a full moon as stated in the episode. It was full on February 5th in reality.

Tony Beche's ID number in the police photo book is used for other people listed in the book.

Al's cigar smoke can be seen in the shot before he actually arrives through the Imaging Chamber door.

Al picks up on Sam's attraction to her and tells him to forget about it. He's too old for her. Since when is that something Al cares about? He's oddly prudish in this episode.

Sam has been there for two weeks and it doesn't appear that he's seen Ross during that period. They work together, so this seems off.

Sam tells Tamlyn about his real life, but not about Al?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that you're comfortable here.
-- Al

Excuse me, do you like orange spice, Sam?
-- Tamlyn

There's a strange energy in the room.
-- Tamlyn, looking straight at Al

Sam, I'm not gonna stick around here and watch you two do ... whatever you're gonna do.
-- Al

Al: Boxer shorts? You're wearing boxer shorts in bed? Ah, it's with hearts on 'em and little bearsies, isn't that cute?
Sam: They were a gift, okay?

Best Lines:

Al: "You can still get outta this."
Sam: "How?"
Al: "Lie. Works for me."

Tamlyn: "Let's just think of this as a little vacation."

Al: "I'm not gonna stick around here and watch you two do...whatever it is you're gonna do."

Production Credits:

Theme by: Mike Post
Music by: Velton Ray Bunch
Co-Executive Producer: Deborah Pratt
Co-Executive Producer: Michael Zinberg
Supervising Producer: Harker Wade
Produced by: Jeff Gourson, Tommy Thompson
Produced by: Chris Ruppenthal, Paul Brown
Created by: Donald P. Bellisario
Written by: Paul Brown
Directed by: Christopher Hibler

Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario
Associate Producers: Julie Bellisario, James S. Giritlian
Coordinating Producer: David Bellisario
Director of Photography: Michael Watkins, A.S.C.
Production Designer: Cameron Birnie
Edited by: Michael S. Stern
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 Supervisor: David Rawley
Art Director: Ellen Dambros-Williams
Sound Mixer: Barry D. Thomas
Stunt Coordinator: Diamond Farnsworth
Sound Editor: Greg Schorer
Music Editor: Bruce Frazier
Special Visual Effects: Roger Dorney, Denny Kelly

Panaflex ® Camera and Lenses by: Panavision ®

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

Copyright © 1992 by Universal City Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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

Bellisarius Productions In Association With Universal Television, an MCA Company

Podcasts:

Wake up from your psychic dream, it’s time for Temptation Eyes!

Hosts Allison Pregler, Matt Dale and Christopher DeFilippis find out what love is in this extrasensory Leap, in which Sam must prevent the murder of a beautiful psychic – who can see him for who he really is. Oh yeah, and they fall in love.

Listen to The Quantum Leap Podcast on this episode here: