Quantum Leap: Genesis Part 2

Sam has traded the body of Air Force Captain Tom Stratton for minor league baseball player Tim Fox. It's no longer 1956 but June 25th, 1968 and he's now in Waco Texas. Sam's Leaped smack dab in the middle of a game between the Waco Bombers and some team from Oklahoma. Tim's dog is barking its adorable little head off and Sam realizes the dog knows he really isn't his owner, but a complete dtranger. He tries to stare down the dog and believes he's the one the dog actually listens to, but alas, it's really just Al, who's snuck up behind him. He says it's really no wonder the Bombers are the suckiest team who ever sucked because they have about as much enthusiasm as a ten dollar hooker *coughcough* much like the one Al picked up at the beginning of the show *coughcough*. Sam wants Al to follow him to somepolace a little more private so they can chat, but Al wants to watch the game.

After Sam coaxes Al to the privy, he demands to know how Al found him so fast since it's only been like a minute since he'd entered the body of Tim Fox. Al tells him it's actually been a week since Sam Leaped. Time is much much different in the "now" which is actually 1999 (thanks to Shannon for reminding me of that). Al gives Sam Tim Fox's past and future, but really has no idea what he's actually there to do. Al keeps pestering Sam because he wants to get back to the game but Sam wants to know how the hell he's going to get home. Al tells him Leaping forward 12 years in a matter of 7 days is pretty good, so a few more of these and he'll be right back where he belongs. But, Sam counters, what if I Leap back in time? Does that mean he's going to keep bouncing around forever? "No one lives forever" is Al's uplifting response.

Al tells Sam he can't ask Ziggy what he's actually in 1968 to do because Ziggy's depressed. See, he didn't do enough research during the Tom Stratton Leap so he didn't know that when Tom originally died, the baby they eventually named Samantha (coincidence?) died, too. So, he (Sam) was ultimately there to save both lives, which he did. But now Ziggy is depressed and won't tell Al what Sam's purpose is because he might be wrong. Again. And Ziggy doesn't handle being wrong too well. Obviously. Sam gets P.O'd and wants to know who the knucklehead creator responsible for Ziggy's is. He wasn't expecting Al to point his cigar at him and say "You" and proceed to tell him the whole Project was his brainchild and he holds six doctorates (because he's a smart Mofo, fo sho) with his specialty being quantum physics. Time mag even called him "the next Einstein" and if there's one person who can figure out how to bring him back, it's Sam. Al also tells Sam his last name.

Armed with his newly aquired knowledge, Sam calls the operator and asks to be connected to John Beckett in Elk Ridge, Indiana. His dad picks up, sending Sam into all sorts of emotional turmoil. He begs his dad not to hang up and tells him he's a Beckett, telling him his father's father and John Beckett's father are brothers. Sam has an emotional chat with his dad, telling him everything he wishes he could have told him when he was alive, only changing the names and experiences to keep with his cover story. It's a pretty heavy scene and it still makes me wanna tear up. Sam decides Leaping isn't such a raw deal, fixing time's mistakes. Sam thanks Al for telling him his last name. Al seems embarrassed and shakes his gratitude off, telling him to get his ass out on the field and bat. Sam makes an off-handed remark that maybe he's actually there to win the game. Al has already told him the outcome of the game and reminds him that Fox hits the ball to center, which doesn't help the Bombers in the least. Sam reminds him he's not Fox. Al chuckles cynically and says "Yeah, well you're not Roy Hobbs, either!" Now, that's not very nice.

The first pitch is a strike. So is the second. And then here comes the last pitch aaaaannnnnddddd.....wouldn't cha know it's STRIKE THREE! But! The catcher doesn't catch the ball, which means Sam is free to run for first base. The throw to first is high and Sam id on to second. By the time the right fielder tosses the ball to second, Sam is already on his way to third. The throw to third is just as shitty and Sam makes a mad dash for home, sliding in, face first, and winning the game.

And, he Leaps.