Theorizing that one could time-travel
within his own lifetime,
Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap Accelerator
and vanished.
He woke to find himself trapped in the past,
facing mirror images that were not his own,
and driven by an unknown force,
to change history for the better.
His only guide on this journey is Al,
an observer from his own time,
who appears in the form of a hologram
that only Sam can see and hear.
And so Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life,
striving to put right what once went wrong,
and hoping each time that his next leap
will be the leap home.
While leaping through time, I found myself
in some pretty tight spots,
but this was definitely the tightest.
And now for the Sword of Doom!
Ladies and gentlemen, the Great Spontini!
Oh, boy.
Harry, the saw.
Oh, the saw.
Harry, what are you doing?
The head frame.
Turn me around.
Around.
Turn the table around.
Turning the table.
Still turning.
Whoa.
And stop.
Harry, the saw.
Do you have to make it sound like that?
Okay?
Put the dividers in.
She's okay, folks.
Now here's the dividers, thank you.
And the first divider is in.
And now comes the second divider.
Pull my head.
Now, I will attempt to open the doors.
Doors.
Now, I will...
Push me apart!
And now, I will
put her together.
Closing doors.
Turning table.
That was the Great Spontini!
What was that?
I'm not sure.
It was Phoenix all over again.
You better not be getting that weird flu.
Here, hold these swords.
You don't have a fever.
Come on, let's go.
Thank God we're in Oakland.
We'd never get away with that in Vegas.
How's your stomach?
Fine. I'm feeling a lot better now.
Okay, because we've really got to nail
that Bill Bixby audition Thursday.
We're auditioning for The Incredible Hulk?
Harry, I don't think a great actor like Bill Bixby
The Magician, is gonna play a green comic book character.
Wait, The Magician, Bill Bixby's TV show.
Starring The Great Spontini and his Table of Death.
Table... table of Death?
Worth $3,500 if we get on,
and $10,000 if we win for greatest illusion.
With that money in the kitty,
we'll have the hottest magic shop on the west coast.
This time we'll have all the magic on our side.
Come on.
Time for my quick-change routine.
Just give me a minute, okay?
Okay.
Hmm, let me guess. You're a kleptomaniac.
No, no, Al. I'm a...
I'm a magician.
I-I'm sorry I missed your act,
but I caught a better one next door.
Let me guess. Women's dressing room.
Take pity on me, Sam.
I haven't been myself lately.
Tina's been away for a couple of weeks visiting her mother,
and I do have my needs, you know.
God forbid you should have two weeks downtime.
Yeah, well, I mean...
Uh...
Come in.
It's Elaine, from next door.
She's got the cutest little butterfly tattoo, and it's right...
Oh, she seems to like you a lot, Sam.
I begged my agent for three months
to get us booked at the same place.
Four week run together.
It'll be heaven, baby.
Oh, go for it.
You're still thinking about her.
Who?
What difference does it make?
Don't play dumb with me, Harry.
You just can't get her out of your head, can you?
Well, th-these things, they... they take time.
Three years? That's long enough.
You hurt her feelings, Sam.
Now beg her forgiveness.
What?
I said, that's long enough.
I can't compete with Maggie's memory.
Say you're sorry and make up to her.
I'm... I'm sorry, Elaine.
You mean it?
Because I can help you forget her
if you just let me try.
There you go, kid.
Now you're back on the burner.
Harry.
Mom?
Deny it.
So mommy dearest comes back.
You could have at least told me.
Well, l... I didn't really...
He's been waiting for you like a dog by the door, honey.
Guess I should have knocked a little louder, huh?
Well, I...
I...
This is Maggie.
Hi, uh, Maggie.
Hi, baby.
You have gotten so big.
She ran out on Harry and the kid three years ago.
I've missed you so much.
I suppose that's for me?
Yes, it is.
I don't know if it's quite right.
You missed me when I was this size.
A lot changes in three years.
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.
I'll take you shopping and you can go pick out a larger size, okay?
Hi. Steve Slater. Nice to meet you, Harry.
I caught the end of your act.
I really enjoyed it.
Oh, well, thank you.
Yeah, you're really great with all that illusion stuff. You're good.
It can never top your disappearing act.
Where're you going?
I gotta feed the rabbits.
We knew this was gonna be tough.
It's gonna to take a little time.
I can't find out why she came back after three years.
Harry, I want a divorce.
Bingo.
Divorce?
Margaret and I are engaged.
We'd like to get the paperwork moving.
Steve's also my attorney.
Watch your wallet, Sam. Here it comes.
Harry, I want to make this as easy as I possibly can.
Trust me, I don't want it to get blown out of proportion.
Blown... My guess is that Steve here is providing the plutonium.
Well, uh, couldn't...
Couldn't we talk about this alone?
I think we said it all three years ago.
Nothing's changed, Harry.
Well, you're... you're here,
and we don't need a lawyer to talk.
No, we'll talk about it tomorrow in Judge Mulhern's chambers.
County courthouse, 2:00.
This is a formality, Harry.
Come.
I don't like that guy, Sam.
He reminds me of my second wife's divorce attorney.
Cost me every nickel I had.
And according to Ziggy, Harry spends his life savings on attorney's fees.
Al,
I think I'm here to reunite this family.
What makes you think that?
Well, you heard Elaine.
Spontini never stopped loving Maggie.
And I think she still loves him.
I mean, you can see it in her eyes.
She left him and the kid.
She went on to school, got a real estate license.
She started a whole new life.
But she came back.
To get a divorce.
I don't think so. I think she came back because she still loves him.
We are here to review the case of Harry Spontini
and his estranged wife, Margaret Spontini.
Mr. Spontini, as I see no counsel present,
I assume you've chosen to represent yourself in this matter?
Yes, Your Honor.
And I'm sure that Mrs. Spontini and I
can work out a solution without taking up your time,
Guard shark here.
...if her counsel would just allow us a few moments alone to talk.
Your Honor, my client and I are prepared to waive our rights
to spousal support in this matter.
Sam, this is not about a divorce.
However, we do believe Harry Spontini to be an unfit parent
and that my client, Margaret Spontini
should be given sole legal and physical custody
of the minor, Jamie Spontini.
See? She's after Jamie.
This was supposed to be about a divorce, not a custody hearing.
Your Honor, I'd like to show you some of the examples
of the unacceptable living conditions
Mr. Spontini has subjected his 12-year-old daughter to
in the last few years.
These photos will demonstrate the need
for temporary placement of the child
in Mrs. Spontini's custody as soon as possible.
Photos?
Yeah, the shark hired a dick to follow you. I warned you.
I don't wanna hear it.
I'm afraid you'll have to, Mr. Spontini.
May I see those, Counselor?
Custody hearings are the worst.
I remember my third... Fourth? Third wife, Sharon, and I,
we fought for over eight months over Chester.
You have a son?
Dog.
He's a good dog, and she got him.
I tell you, family court, women have all the power.
Mr. Spontini,
how many residences have you had in the last five years?
You live in a trailer.
We have one residence.
A one-bedroom mobile home
that changes locations from week to week
can hardly be considered a suitable residence.
My work forces me to live on the road
and I feel it's better for Jamie, my daughter,
that she's with me and I don't leave her.
That's good, Sam.
Do you travel a lot or a little?
Uh, well,
Say, 30 weeks out of the year.
Lie a little on this one.
I'm employed about 30 weeks out of the year.
Your daughter doesn't have her own room?
She has a sleeping area.
But she's happy.
But she's a very happy and well-adjusted young girl, Mr. Slater.
I'm sure you feel that way, Mr. Spontini,
but do you think it's appropriate
for a maturing young girl to share a common sleep area?
Well, uh, no.
But we are trying to buy a business
that will enable us to settle into the area.
A magic shop?
Uh, yes, that's-that's correct.
Mrs. Spontini, were you aware of this business purchase?
Uh, yes, I was.
And how many years has this purchase been a consideration?
Um, well,
since I first met my husband in '61.
He's working her, Sam.
Your Honor,
at this time we are very close to having a down payment.
That's very nice, but this hearing is not about
your future situation.
It's about Jamie's present.
Now, can you tell me how many schools
Jamie has attended in the last, say, two years?
Well, let me think.
Come on, don't let me down now.
Mr. Spontini?
Uh, well, Your Honor, I would probably...
I have to check my records.
Battery looks good.
Because...
I'll slug you!
Why are you doing this?
Something perhaps as simple as a birth date?
Come on.
Well, it's '74 now.
She was born in 1962.
Perhaps you can recall a date?
A date.
Oh, here. Th-th-there.
She attended the Bedford School for... No!
Uh-oh.
I think I killed it, Sam.
Um...
I have... I've never really been very good with
dates, um, and birthdays.
I mean, sometimes I have trouble remembering my own birthday.
Um, but whatever the day was,
uh, I just think it's important to note that I was there.
You work as a magician?
Yeah, yeah, you saw me last night.
Who takes care of your daughter while you're working?
Well, she's my assistant.
Your 12-year-old daughter works with you?
The third photo is of the Blue Mamba Club
where Mr. Spontini and his daughter are currently employed.
You Honor, Mrs. Spontini and I visited the club last night.
I want you to note the incontinent living conditions
this child is being subjected to,
both physically and emotionally.
Mr. Spontini, would you care to respond?
She ran out on Jamie.
Your Honor,
I think that Harr... that l... that I have
been a good father to Jamie.
I love her.
And I've been there for her every day
and I would hope that that would count for something.
Now, maybe,
I'm not really very good with the details and... and things like that,
but I just...
I didn't walk out on my daughter.
Hey, I didn't have a choice.
I am trying to make a better life for myself,
and I'm trying to make one for Jamie, too.
Fight for her, Sam.
Don't you think that's what I'm doing?
I understand, Mr. Spontini.
However,
considering the fact that you have no permanent residence
or steady employment,
I have no choice but to award temporary custody
of the minor, Jamie Spontini, to her mother,
pending a formal hearing on the matter.
Sam.
Why don't we ask Jamie what she wants?
She's a minor, Mr. Spontini.
My client searched for two and a half years before locating her daughter.
We feel Mr. Spontini may flee with the child if given the opportunity.
Oh, Your Honor, please.
I'm not gonna pull that. I swear.
If I may finish...
We believe it's in the best interest of Jamie
that her father be denied visitation rights
until a formal decision is made.
I don't believe it's necessary
to deny Mr. Spontini access to his daughter.
Thank you.
However, visitation shall be limited to Mrs. Spontini's home.
Mr. Spontini, I'm sorry, but by 5:00 this afternoon,
you shall deliver custody of the minor to her mother.
And Mr. Spontini,
I suggest you retain legal counsel before the actual hearing.
Thank you all.
Maggie.
Come on, Harry, don't make me add reports of physical abuse to this hearing.
Steve. Please, Harry.
I just wanna talk to my wife alone.
She doesn't wanna talk to you.
I think it's best if you let Jamie be with me for a while,
you have to believe that.
I don't. And I don't think you do either.
I want my daughter.
Come on.
So she wants a divorce?
She doesn't belong to us since she ran away.
We'll be okay.
Your mother wants to take care of you, Jamie,
and the judge wants you to live with her for a while.
When?
Today at 5:00.
I don't wanna live with her.
Now, it's only temporary, until the hearing is over.
Don't I have a choice? No.
Not on this one.
But I'll be back here first thing in the morning.
You know, I figured out where we're blowing the Table of Death illusion.
The judge says you can't come to the club.
Didn't you tell him you need me for the act?
He doesn't think that a nightclub business
is a good place for a young girl to be working.
Is he nuts or something?
I'm learning a trade.
He wants you in a real home.
That's why I'm taking you to your mother's in two hours.
We can run away. I can pack.
If we don't show up, the police will throw me in jail
and you'll end up at your mother's anyway.
Harry, don't let them take me away.
It won't be forever, okay?
I'll find a way for the two of us to be together again soon.
I promise.
Now, I want you to do something for me, okay?
Will you go to your mother's and stay with her for a couple of days,
until I get this all straightened out, okay?
Okay.
On one condition.
I reworked the shackles to open at once.
It'll be a snap.
If it's such a snap, uh,
why do they call it the Table of Death?
'Cause two guys have died doing it.
Two guys have died?
You're better than them, Harry.
Yeah.
We have an extra 15 seconds before it hits the final latch.
Then all 900 pounds of canopy comes slamming down
and splattering your guts all over the place.
Jamie, listen, th-th-there has got to be
a better way to get the magic shop.
We need this to get on The Magician.
Watch this.
I told you it would work.
Hey, Sam, did I ever tell you that when I was in the orphanage,
they used to call me Al "The Pick"?
Fail-safe on.
60 seconds, Harry. Go.
Uh, is... is there a way to stop it?
Gee, I'd like to do a trick like this.
What're you doing?
I mean, you can pick locks in your sleep.
Just back off. I know what I'm doing.
20 seconds.
Don't worry about me, Sam.
I'm having a good time.
10 seconds.
What's wrong?
I can't get the feel of it.
I can't...
Harry!
I couldn't do it.
You're doing this on purpose.
You don't want me around anymore.
Do you know how many hickies I got from using that stuff?
I got a million hickies.
I almost got killed back there.
Hey, I was the guy in the rack.
I can't do that trick.
You saw, I cannot do that trick.
Well, you've got to, Sam, unless you want Harry to lose his kid.
Well, maybe, maybe that's for the best.
Well, but it's not.
Maggie wins custody and she marries Jaws.
Jamie runs away from home trying to find her father.
She doesn't, she ends up on the street, stealing.
You can't let that kid's life be ruined by an egocentric lawyer
and an inept woman who didn't deserve
to be Jamie's mother in the first place.
Al, I'm not gonna let Harry lose his daughter, okay?
How are you going to keep it from...
Oh, I get it.
You're gonna go make nice-nice with the mother.
Well, it's worth a shot.
I know that kind of woman, Sam.
You're wasting your time.
Al, maybe if your mom thought she had a chance, she would've come back.
Maggie made a mistake.
I just wanna give her a chance to fix it.
You're losing it, Harry.
I think you're supposed to wear that stuff, not drink it.
Well, I had a little accident and...
You ready to go?
No.
It's a great house.
Yeah, if you want to live with Wally and The Beaver.
Hi, Jamie.
Hi.
For you.
Oh, thank you.
They smell like Aqua Velva.
Well...
Well, you wanna come in?
Do I have a choice?
You know, this is really... it's a big change for her.
And maybe if I could...
Sure, Harry, come on in.
Great, great. Come on.
Well, make yourselves at home.
I'll be right back, okay?
Okay.
Just try, okay? Please?
Give it a chance.
Lemonade with water, not too strong, not too sweet.
Where did Jamie go?
Um, backyard.
Oh, Harry.
I'm sorry this is happening the way it is.
Steve thought that it would be best if I...
I just wanted Jamie back.
Listen, I'm sorry, too.
I said some things that I wish...
You... you didn't say anything that wasn't true.
I just want a chance to make it up to her before it's too late.
I know.
And that's what I wanted to talk to you about.
This is a rough neighborhood.
Oh, my God!
Jamie.
Where's your sense of humor, Maggie?
I think this is just Jamie's way of saying
that she's really glad to be here. Come on.
Why don't we, say...
Why don't go look at your new room, okay?
My room is in our trailer in Oakland.
Wow, Maggie, you've done a terrific job.
Thank you.
Yeah, not a dust bunny in sight.
Hey, hey, look at this bed, huh?
Come on. Isn't this great?
Sarah?
I thought I lost her, and you had her all the time.
Jamie, I had her...
I took her because I needed something that was a part of you.
And Sarah made things a little easier for me for a while.
I like the bed.
Listen, what do you say
we get you unpacked and settled in, all right?
It's a great idea. Here's the dresser, and the closet's right there.
Which drawer is mine?
They're all yours.
I'll only be needing one.
I'm not staying long.
You look really nice.
Is that so?
Thank you, Harry.
You know, Maggie,
you have to admit that we had some pretty terrific times.
Really?
Yeah.
Yeah. Like that, um,
that trip.
Which one?
Virginia Beach or New Orleans?
New Orleans.
I knew that you'd say New Orleans.
Yeah.
You were incredible that weekend, Harry.
I've never been able to look at a balcony the same way again.
Balcony?
Um...
Oh, l... I feel the same way.
You want some brownies?
They're the kind with the marshmallows.
Remember, we ate a whole pan of these
the night before Jamie was born?
Ow!
I just burned myself.
I'll go get some butter.
Here, here. Wait, wait, wait a second.
Let me look at it.
Come here.
Come on, come on.
Feel better?
Why is it you always know what to do, Harry?
Oh, Harry.
Harry.
This custody battle, it's crazy.
You know, I mean...
I know.
We can work these things out by ourselves.
Right? I mean, as soon as I get the magic shop, everything...
Oh, the magic shop?
Then you're gonna settle down and you're gonna buy a real home, right, Harry?
I heard that before. I heard it for eight years.
And I'm not gonna hear it again.
So you walked away?
Do you think that I wanted to leave my baby?
God, I didn't have a choice, Harry.
I couldn't sit around waiting for your fantasies to come true.
So I left her.
And I went out there and I made it happen, Harry.
And now I can give her all the things
that we always wanted to give her.
Nice clothes, good schools...
Why don't we give her these things together?
You let him inside the house?
Well, not that it's any of your business,
but I was talking to Maggie, who's still my wife,
about Jamie, who will always be my daughter.
He was just leaving, Steve.
Good. Because talking to you without your lawyer present
could jeopardize his case.
Just a little free legal advice.
I don't want your advice, I want my family.
Frankly, Mr. Spontini, other than a few signatures,
your family doesn't exist.
Harry, just leave.
Why don't you ask him to leave?
Keep it up, I can pretty much guarantee you no visitation rights.
You can't keep me from my daughter.
Don't count on it. I always win.
That's what this is about for you, isn't it?
Winning.
You don't care about Maggie.
I know you don't care about Jamie.
Come on. Come on, stop!
Smooth move, Ex-Lax.
Look, maybe you both should leave.
Come on, Maggie.
I think that's probably a good idea.
Come here.
See you tomorrow, sweetheart. Okay?
You, too, Steve.
Smile and enjoy it, Jamie.
Because when I finish with him in court,
it'll be a cold day in hell before you or your mother
ever lay eyes on him again.
I don't need a baby-sitter.
Oh, honey, I feel bad about leaving you,
first day home. You gonna be okay?
No sweat.
Don't you worry about a thing, Mrs. Spontini.
I've been taking care of babies all my life.
I am not a baby.
How about if we go shopping later today?
Okay, Maggie.
How about "Mom"?
Oh, give me a chance, Jamie.
I'm sorry, baby.
I'm sorry that I can't give you back
the years that I wasn't with you.
But I can give us a future together,
if you let me.
What about Harry?
Who's gonna take care of him?
Harry's gonna be okay.
You don't understand.
We know each other's thoughts.
We're a team.
Well, maybe we could be a team, too.
And Steve?
Is he part of our team?
Steve loves me very, very much.
And he takes good care of me.
And he's the reason that you're with me again.
So you gotta give him a chance, too, okay?
Do you love him?
I love you.
And that's all that matters to me right now.
I've gotta get out of here before I'm late, okay?
Oh, baby.
Bye-bye.
Looks like she got you again, Sam.
She's a good kid, Al.
I hate to see her going through this.
Yeah, divorces are always hardest on the kids.
I think I've really messed this leap up, haven't I?
I mean, maybe, maybe I should have hired an attorney.
No, that's how Spontini lost everything in the first place.
You're doing this right, Sam.
You go into court, and you just talk through your heart.
The judge has got to give you joint custody.
I got a bad feeling about Jamie.
What kind of feeling?
I don't know. I just... l... l... I got a bad feeling.
Well, I'll check in on Jamie
and you get ready to go to court.
The last thing you want to do is be late.
Jamie, get off that table!
This is a mistake.
This is not gonna work, Jamie.
Ziggy says you're gonna die.
Isn't it true that during your marriage to Harry Spontini,
you and your child were dragged
from one slum nightclub to the next?
I... I object.
This is not a trial, Mr. Spontini.
We are only trying to establish a few facts.
Why don't you rephrase the question, Counselor?
Yes, Your Honor.
Were you able to maintain any sense of a normal home life
when you were married to Mr. Spontini?
Well, being a professional magician...
Yes or no?
No.
And when you could no longer tolerate it,
you were forced to leave. Isn't that correct?
Well, I left so that I could complete my education,
get a job and provide a stable home for my child.
Something your husband could never do.
Now, Jamie, uh, uh, just stay lying there.
Don't touch anything, don't do anything.
Why am I talking when she can't hear me?
I gotta get Sam.
You still have no steady job or permanent residence. Isn't that true, Mr. Spontini?
Uh, I can't hear you.
Yes, that's correct.
Yet you selfishly believe that you'd be the best choice for custody.
Look, I know that
at this time,
society does not consider fathers
to be the best choice as single parents.
But there's no law that says a woman is a better parent than a man.
A simple yes or no will do.
The important thing here
is that the child's needs are being met.
Now, anybody who knows Jamie knows I've done just that.
Sam, it's Jamie!
What about Jamie?
That's what we're here to decide, Mr. Spontini.
She's trying to do that Table of Death trick.
What?
Mr. Spontini, are you all right?
If you don't do something about it, she's gonna die.
Ziggy says you've got 14 minutes.
I... I gotta go.
You can't leave in the middle of proceedings.
Mr. Spontini, you sit down or I will find you in contempt of court!
I can't explain.
I think my daughter's in trouble.
Jamie?
Maggie, sit down. We've got this thing won.
No, if he says that she's in trouble, then I believe him.
Hurry, Sam. It takes 10 minutes to get there.
We've got 13 left.
Harry!
Harry, stop!
Come on, come on. Hurry up.
Where are we going?
The club.
Harry, why are we going to the club?
That's where Jamie is.
I left her with Mrs. Futrell.
She's gone.
You're just gonna have to trust me, okay?
I know she's in danger.
But what's she doing at the club?
The Table of Death trick.
She thinks that if we can do it,
then we'll get on TV and then we'll get the magic shop.
Oh, great.
Look out for the kid on the bike!
Thanks.
I didn't do anything.
Oh, no.
Help!
Come on, break this lock!
The stage door.
Jamie!
Sam, down here! Hurry up!
Daddy, get me out! Hurry!
No, no, you can't stop it. Get the pick.
Over here, the pick is on the floor, Sam.
Now, just try and stay calm.
Steady hand. You can do it, Sam.
Seven seconds.
Six.
Hurry!
Harry!
Four, three seconds, Sam.
Two, one!
Oh, you did it, Sam.
Oh, my baby.
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
Are you okay?
Oh, God.
Your Honor, Mr. Spontini's actions
demonstrate his inability to raise this child.
You don't know anything about it.
He encouraged Jamie, for his own professional gain,
to experiment with a potentially lethal piece of equipment.
We believe this man should face charges for felony child endangerment.
No, he shouldn't.
Your Honor, Jamie was in my care.
If anybody endangered my child, it was me.
What are you saying?
Look, Jamie has been trying to tell me,
but I just didn't wanna see it.
They're too much a part of each other, Steve.
Sit down.
No, it's over.
I can't...
I can't take her away from you.
Your Honor, my client is under duress due these circumstances.
You're making a big mistake.
Look, I made a mistake three years ago.
I'm not gonna make another one.
Your Honor, I would like to withdraw my petition.
Are both parties in accord?
Yes. All right.
This case is dismissed.
I'll reinstate the proceedings for the divorce first thing tomorrow.
I don't think so, Steve.
You've got to be kidding.
You have to understand that I can't go through my life
wondering if I'm throwing something very special away.
I guess you and I have a different definition of what's special.
Steve...
Looks like you're out of a job, butthead.
My sentiments exactly, butthead.
I'm really sorry I put you through all this mess.
I hope that someday we can be good friends again.
I don't know. What do you think?
And you'll never go away again?
I promise you, with all my heart.
I love you, Mommy.
Oh, I love you, baby.
Well, Sam, it looks like Maggie makes good on her promise.
She and Jamie turn out to be a great team.
And Maggie finds a wonderful deal on a little magic shop
right around the corner from her place.
Do Harry and Maggie end up together?
No, that's not in the cards, Sam.
Well, then maybe we're just gonna have to change the cards.
I promise you.
This is amazing.
It's changing.
Yeah, they fall in love again
and they get back together one year from today.
Jamie.
Watch out!
Oh, boy!