"The Leap Back"
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Cut Scenes: In the first season, it was common for the next episode’s leap in to be included at the end of a script, although this was changed from the second season onwards to give more flexibility to the production staff to re-order episodes. Due to the intentional cliff-hanger in Shock Theater, though, the introduction to The Leap Back was first scripted by its writer Deborah Pratt, however it was done so significantly differently to the way the fourth season opener would eventually run: INT. LIVING ROOM - SMALL HOUSE
The glow of Quantum Light fades and Sam and Al stand staring at each other dazed and breathless. After a beat. OBSERVER Wow! What a rush. (beat) Ziggy must have been so juiced up that I leaped.... (looking at Sam) Are you alright? A little woozy. SAM Yeah. Yeah. I think so. (swoons) Maybe I better sit down for a minute. NEW ANGLE – SFX Sam crosses to an old stuffed chair and sits, falling through to the floor. OBSERVER Uh, oh. Sam scrambles to his feet as Al tries a few buttons on the little handlink. It’s dead. SAM What’s going on Al? OBSERVER Your guess is as good as mine. (yelling to Gooshie) Gooshie, open the door. With that, Al walks right into a wall, slamming hard and rebounding. Stunned, he looks for the first time and notices that his clothes are different. Sam is in his bathrobe. The two men look at each other aghast. OBSERVER Oh, boy. Moving onto The Leap Back itself, in a draft script, Al doesn’t state the specific date back home, just that Sam has been leaping for four years and it’s now 1999 (“I’ll be home in time for the millennium”). There is an exchange between Sam and Dr. Beeks after he kisses her on the cheeks: DR. BEEKS
I don’t recall your leaping into any Frenchmen. SAM I think I picked that up from an actor. DR. BEEKS I want to be sure you haven’t picked anything else up. My office in 20 minutes for a physical. Donna slips her arm protectively around Sam. DONNA Your office, tomorrow. (beat) Tonight, he’s mine. FEMALE ADIMIRAL He has to be debriefed, Doctor. SAM (ala Groucho) I’m not wearing briefs but don’t let that stop you. Everyone is a bit taken aback at Sam’s line except Tina who smiles wistfully as she turns to Gushie. TINA Gee… he sounds just like Al. Ziggy’s line about how Al will “kiss the girls and make them cry” is specifically stated to relate to his childhood. Sam wants to go back into the Imaging Chamber to check on Al before he spends some time with Donna, but can’t because the backup handlink is not charged (it costs $1m per charge). |
